COVID-19 has placed considerable pressure on clinical trials performed by and in the NHS. National organisations and government bodies have published guidance to ensure that best practice is maintained during this time. The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Trust) has a number of SOPs and guidelines to ensure preparedness and maintaining safety for patients and staff. As a research sponsor the Trust has a duty to maintain clinical trial activity where significant safety implications apply. As a result some trials will remain open during the pandemic.

NICE have released their first guidelines and are accumulating the priorities for rapid evidence reviews, which can be viewed https://www.nice.org.uk/covid-19.

Further guidance has been published on the MHRA website in relation to Managing Clinical Trials and Clinical Trial Applications.