Sunderland Eye Infirmary staff thank long-serving research patient

Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) has acknowledged the contribution of a long-serving research patient with the presentation of a hamper.

Charles Smith, who has wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in his left eye and dry AMD in his right, is believed to be the trust research team’s longest serving ophthalmology patient.

The 88-year-old first signed up for an interventional trial called Merlot in 2010. Smith also reviewed literature and gave feedback as part of a focus group for the Making Research Better campaign in 2015.

In 2022, he participated in the Oaks trial – a two-year study that examined the effect of dry AMD – and an extension of this work called the Gale trial.

In recognition of his contribution, staff presented Smith with a Marks and Spencer hamper. The hamper included a bottle of merlot in reference to the name of the first trial Smith participated in.

“Charles has been the epitome of patient engagement and collaboration,” STSFT head of research, Claire Livingstone, highlighted.

The trust has one of the largest AMD services in the country, with 23,000 intravitreal injections carried out each year. There are also currently 18 active research trials within the trust’s ophthalmology unit.

Smith, who is a retired district manager for Woolworths, described his motivation for taking part in research through the trust.

"I felt as though I owed something and wanted to be useful and it was a way to say thank you for what the hospital has done for me,” he said.

“In fact, it became a bit of a habit and I would come every so many weeks, and would always look forward to it and to meeting the staff,” he added.