Latham Lodge participates in Medical Research
3rd January 2017
Residents and colleagues at Latham Lodge care home in Purbrook, Portsmouth, have been helping with medical research into antibiotic resistance by having their noses and throats swabbed.Eighteen of the 37 elderly residents and five colleagues at the care home volunteered to assist in the research, which is a joint venture between Solent NHS Trust and the University of Southampton.The study will help medical understanding of the germs and bacteria in the upper airways which can cause serious infections such as sepsis and meningitis, among others. It is hoped that this knowledge will determine new treatment and prevention.Sylvia Morse-Carter, Home Manager, says:“An NHS research nurse, Sharon Simpson, asked for volunteer care homes and we were delighted to take part in supporting this important project. Antibiotics are so valuable in fighting infections and finding out more about their resistance is vital work. Everyone was very positive about their involvement.“The swabs were taken very quickly and the procedure was totally painless, even though the nose one was very tickly!”Jo Taylor, Older Persons Mental Health Research Nurse commented:"The research team at Solent NHS Trust works in partnership with local communities and care homes are an integral part of this. Research is about finding new knowledge and improving care and it is important that all staff and patients have a chance to participate. The SMART study is one of a series of projects that we are delivering with homes such as Latham Lodge – we love working with them, and hope to carry out a number of studies together in the future."If you would like find out more about life at Latham Lodge please contact us on 0808 223 5519 or email [email protected].[gallery size="large" ids="17323,16786,17063"]