The region's NHS trusts have seen a huge increase in research activity in the last year, according to the annual National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Activity League Table, published today.

Some 68pc of NHS trusts in the region increased the number of studies they run - above the 65pc national average.

At West Suffolk Hospital (WSH) in Bury St Edmunds, the research team achieved the second largest increase in studies for an acute trust across the entire country with a 58pc rise.

WSH also increased the number of participants recruited to take part in their research by 243pc.

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), in Norwich, saw a 16pc increase in study numbers from 170 to 197, giving them the biggest study increase across the region. The trust's research participant numbers also saw an increase of 14pc from 3779 to 4319.

John from Blofield Heath, Norwich volunteered to take part in a cardiology trial at NNUH. He was impressed by the increased monitoring of his condition that he received as part of the trial as well as the increased contact with health professionals.

He said: 'I'd been looked after so well and dealt with in an emergency, I thought it was the least I could do to try and offer something back as it were. I was jolly glad that I volunteered for it... I felt that really it was the wisest thing I ever did.'

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, increased their study numbers by 24pc, from 45 to 56, and their participant recruitment also saw a significant increase of 116pc, taking their tally from 372 to 803.

Other trusts which saw an increase in studies include:

• East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (33pc from 3 to 4)

• Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (13pc from 31 to 35 with a recruitment increase of 35pc),

• Ipswich Hospital (7pc from 84 to 90, with a recruitment increase of 13pc)

• James Paget University Hospital NHS Trust saw a significant increase in participant recruitment of 76pc (323 to 569) despite there being a slight reduction in study numbers.

The Research Activity League Table is published by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) annually to detail research activity across all NHS trusts and CCGs in England. The table provides a picture of how much clinical research is happening in which NHS organisations, and involving how many patients.

Fiona Robertson, chief operating officer for the NIHR Clinical Research Network in the Eastern region commended teams. She said: 'This excellent progress is largely down to the vision and energy of NHS staff across East Anglia to find better treatments for patients. It is also demonstrative of the appetite of the extraordinary volunteers who take part.'

'We will continue to support our research community to grow opportunities for patients and to help those delivering research to get the recognition they deserve.'