Hello, my name is Philippa and ​I am a research health visitor employed by Whittington Health NHS. I have been working on the Healthy Start, Happy Start study since July 2015.  My role includes facilitating and supporting recruitment of families to the study across Islington and I have also recently completed the 4 day VIPP-SD training.
 
Colleagues and I from Whittington Health NHS and NOCLOR  held an event on Friday 20th May 2016 at the Whittington Hospital to mark International Clinical Trials Day.  Our stall was in a busy area of the Whittington Hospital giving us the opportunity to talk to patients, visitors and members of staff about research taking place across the Trust.  
 
There was information displayed about a range of research studies including Healthy Start, Happy Start.  We used some of the materials developed by NIHR for the “OK to ask campaign”   which  provide information about participation in research. We also set up the chocolate trial which introduces some of the principles of research including randomisation, blinding, pre and post measurements (in this case assessment of happiness before and after eating one of the possible flavours of chocolate!)
 
This was a useful opportunity to share the work of Healthy Start Happy Start, and also meet colleagues undertaking very different types of research.

​Author: Philippa Kemsley (far right)

Check out Dr Paul Ramchandani's blog about the World Association for Infant Mental Health conference. Paul and some of the team are currently in Prague and so check out  here what they have been up to on day 1 and 2.