Research Bus

Our Research Buses are on their way!

Driving Progress, Enhancing Lives: Research on the move!

The research landscape is evolving, with a growing emphasis on creating opportunities for people to participate in studies outside traditional hospital settings. This shift is making research more open and accessible to local communities.

This is particularly important for MPFT, as our Trust serves a vast geographical area, covering both urban and rural communities across Staffordshire and Shropshire, while also providing services nationally. For many, travelling long distances to reach one of our hospitals can prevent or deter participation in research.

Following successful funding, the MPFT Research team will take delivery of two Research Buses! Based in Staffordshire and Shropshire, these buses will travel throughout the counties.

The first of MPFT’s research buses to arrive is Betsy, the NHS Research Bus. Check out the video below from the launch event.

The Research Bus can be found at the following locations:

10th March 2025, 9am - 3pm – Leek Hospital, ST13 5BQ
11th March 2025, 9am - 3pm – Bradwell Hospital, ST5 7NJ
19th March 2025, 9am - 3pm – CARA Conference, Wade Conference Centre, Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7NY
27th March 2025, 9am - 3pm – Staffordshire Wellbeing Event, Staffordshire County Showground, Weston Road, Stafford, ST18 0BD
16th April 2025, 9am - 3pm – Market Drayton Health & Wellbeing Festival, Festival Drayton Centre, Frogmore Road, Market Drayton, TF9 3AX
14th May 2025, 9am - 3pm – Meeting of Minds Wellbeing Event, Burton Albion FC, Princess Way, DE13 0AR
16th May 2025, 9am - 3pm – Parked at The Maltings Car Park, Silver Street, Uttoxeter, ST14 7QE
27th June 2025, 9am - 3pm – Keele University Open Day, Student Union Keele University, ST5 5BG
29th July 2025, 9am - 3pm – Parked at Stafford Market Square, ST16 2BB

The Research Bus Launch Event

On 15th January 2025, Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) proudly welcomed the first of its two research buses, marking an exciting milestone in its mission to bring health research directly to the heart of local communities. Neil Carr OBE, Chief Executive of MPFT, Jackie Small, Chair of MPFT Board and Ruth Lambley-Burke, Director of Research and Innovation at MPFT were on hand to cut the ribbon and officially unveil the innovative new resource. Click here to read all about it.

Jackie Small and Neil Carr cut the ribbon to launch the Research Bus

Next stop: Your help - please complete our survey

Please fill in our short survey to help answer the following points:

Let us know how our team can work with your team
Think about where you’d like to see our bus parked up
Give us ideas about your work in the community and how we can get involved

The survey can be accessed here or by scanning the QR code within the poster below!

Research bus survey poster

What the Research Buses are all about

The research buses will bring health studies into the heart of communities, visiting settings such as health centres, care homes, places of worship, voluntary hubs, and even people’s homes.

Equipped with clinical and consultation spaces, the research buses can be used for a variety of purposes, including taking blood samples, conducting physical assessments for specific research studies, or providing information and engaging with people about research opportunities.

How the project came to be

This initiative was made possible through funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The availability of this funding reflects the national commitment to strengthening the UK’s position as a leader in research delivery and innovation.

Impact on communities and the future of research

The research buses aim to make research delivery more person-focused, enabling MPFT to reach diverse and underserved populations. They will provide greater access to industry research, which often involves new therapies and treatments not yet part of standard care. Additionally, the research buses will expand the range of studies offered to patients, service users, and the wider community, ensuring more people can contribute to and benefit from advancements in healthcare.

Community-driven design: MPFT’s Research Bus shaped by local feedback

As part of our initiative to involve the community in the design of the new Research Bus, we sought feedback from two individual groups: the MPFT Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Facebook group ‘Health Research for All’ and the students at Our Lady and St Werburgh’s Catholic Primary School in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Facebook Group Feedback

We shared four potential designs on the ‘Health Research for All’ Facebook group, inviting members to vote for their favourite and provide feedback. Along with tallying the votes, we gathered their comments with one member noting “the design was in keeping with MPFT.”

Primary School Participation

The children in Years 4, 5, and 6 at Our Lady and St Werburgh’s Catholic Primary School were also shown the designs. Their teacher explained the purpose of the MPFT Research Bus, and the students were asked to provide feedback via a questionnaire. The students shared what they liked and offered suggestions for improvement. Interestingly, the children’s top choice differed from the adults’ selection in the Facebook group.

Here are a few of the comments from the key stage 2 children, aged 8 to 11:

"The symbols show community and work of the NHS"
"That everyone is together as a community"
"It shows that everyone is working together"
"I think the idea of the buses is amazing!"
"Thank you for letting me participate"

This process gave us valuable insights from different perspectives, ensuring the final design reflects the views of both adults and children.

For more information contact the MPFT R&I Delivery Team via Admin.Research@mpft.nhs.uk

Watch this space!

Research Bus

Our Research Buses are on their way!

Driving Progress, Enhancing Lives: Research on the move!