A trainee GP near Falmouth has become one of the first in the country to offer a coronavirus research trial to her patients.

The Principle Trial is a nationwide study into Covid-19, which is being delivered in the community.

The study aims to enable researchers to rapidly evaluate different treatments of Covid-19 symptoms in older people and hopefully improve outcomes.

Despite still being a GP in training, Dr Judit Konya is so enthusiastic about taking part in research that she has stepped up to lead the study for the Mullion and Constantine Group Practice, which runs Constantine Surgery, Mullion Surgery, Ruan Minor Surgery and Lizard Surgery.

Judit is an Academic Clinical Fellow with a special interest in research and said she was passionate about striving for excellence in primary care.

She has been able to use her interest and background in academic and clinical research to open up the study at her training practice.

Of the 36 GP practices that are offering this study to patients in the south west, five are being led by GPs who are newly qualified - or in Judit's case still training - and who have shown an interest in research.

Between them the newly qualified GPs have directly contacted more than 11,000 people to let them know that they may be able to take part in the Principle Trial and they are on hand to guide and support their patients though the study if they take part.

Other GP practices in Cornwall offering the research are: Middleway Surgery in St Blazey, Newquay Health Centre, and the Mounts Bay Medical federation practices of Praze Surgery, Carn to Coast Health Centres Pool, Helston Medical Centre, Manor Surgery Redruth, Penryn Surgery, St Agnes Surgery and The Stennack Surgery St Ives.

The research trial is still in its early stages and it is hoped more practices will join in. 

Lisa Gibbons, the Primary Care Clinical Research Lead for South West Peninsula, said: “Many GPs are not aware that they can offer research to their patients.

"The Clinical Research Network SWP aims to spread the word about research to all GPs in training, many of whom have never seen research being offered in GP surgeries."

She said her team were hoping to share the message that research was something everyone could get involved in and that it offered health benefits to patients.

“It is inspiring to see so many passionate newly qualified GPs open up opportunities for their patients to take part in for high level research, they are flourishing in their new roles," she added.

"Many have encouraged and supported their practices to take part in clinical research for the first time. In the case of Covid-19, in particular, it allows participants to really make a difference and to support learning about best practice and support the NHS.”