Study Set-Up: Trust level set up report

Published 27th February 2026

Table of Contents

Overview

The UK government is committed to reducing the set-up time for clinical trials from over 250 days to under 150 days by March 2026. Reducing set-up times for commercial interventional clinical trials is a headline action in the Life Science Sector Plan

Alongside this, there is a policy expectation that all participating sites in England complete the parts of the set-up process they are responsible for all studies within 90 days.

This report measures the performance of NHS trusts in meeting this 90‑day site‑level part of the 150-day target for commercial interventional clinical trials. Sites will have met the target when they recruit its first participant within 90 days of either receiving regulatory approval, or being selected as a site, whichever occurs later.  

This report supersedes previous editions of the trust-level set up report published on the UKCRD programme website since April 2025.

Whilst it presents data for commercial interventional clinical trials in the first instance, reporting of data for non-commercial and observational studies is expected in the future.

This report will be published monthly. Data are monitored on an ongoing, real‑time basis, and sites are encouraged to enter data as soon as possible.

Data sources and coverage

This report uses data from the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS). The data cover commercially sponsored interventional clinical research studies in England that are recorded on the CPMS.

For the purpose of this report, the following exclusion criteria apply: extension studies, rare disease studies, and low-recruiting studies.

For definitions on extension studies, rare disease studies and low-recruiting studies, please refer to further guidance. Low-recruiting studies are defined in relation to the overall study cohort size, not the numbers of participants taking part in a study at an individual site.

Data quality

Data quality depends on the accuracy, timeliness and completeness of information entered into CPMS and local portfolio management systems by sponsors and research sites.

There may be delays in data entry by sponsors or sites, data are updated retrospectively in future reports.

How performance is measured

This report shows the percentage of commercial contract interventional studies in England on CPMS that opened to recruitment at an NHS trust within 90 calendar days of:

  • receiving Health Research Authority (HRA) approval, or
  • the Date Site Selected,

whichever occurs later.

For sites selected before regulatory approval, the clock starts on the date HRA approval is received. For sites selected after regulatory approval, the clock starts on the Date Site Selected. In all cases, the clock stops when the first participant undertakes their first visit at the site.

The time between Date Site Confirmed and Date Site Ready to Start is excluded from the reporting metric, as this period is recognised as being outside the control of the site.

The report also presents information on the two distinct stages of site set‑up:

  1. Site opening, which is the time from HRA approval (or Date Site Selected, if later) to Date Site Confirmed. The milestone is less than 60 days.
  2. Recruitment of a first participant, which is the time from Date Site Ready to Start to the date the first participant undertakes their first visit at the site. The milestone is less than 30 days.


Together, these stages make up the overall 90‑day site‑level element of the 150-day target.

The report presents figures for all instances of recruitment of a first participant to a commercial interventional clinical trial since 07 April 2025. Once a full year’s data has accrued at the end of financial year 2025/26, a rolling average will be presented from then onwards.

NHS trusts that have recruited a participant to two or fewer studies are presented in a separate data table. This supports data validity by ensuring that percentage figures are comparable only where larger sample sizes of three or more studies are available. Smaller sample sizes can lead to disproportionate variation in percentage figures, whereas larger ones provide more stable and reliable indicators of performance. 

Data tables

Report date: 27 February 2026

NIHR RDN data cut date: 20 February 2026

Correction: 12 March 2026

Delivery of commercial interventional studies on the NIHR RDN portfolio since 07 April 2025, using the definitions in published guidance.

Trust nameTrust codeNumber of studies recuiting a participant% studies completing set-up within 90 days of approval or site selectionMedian days taken to complete set-up from study approval or site selection% studies opening at site within 60 days of approval or site selectionMedian days taken to site opening from study approval or site selection% studies recruiting first participant within 30 days of site openingMedian days taken to recruit first participant from site opening
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRFS4100%40100%30100%15
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustRWP3100%13100%8100%5
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation TrustRCX3100%45100%30100%19
George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustRLT3100%40100%1567%25
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRTD2785%55100%1641%36
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustRYR1080%6390%2350%32
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation TrustREN771%8186%1629%63
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation TrustRM31070%8190%1040%42
Barts Health NHS TrustR1H3969%7477%3351%28
Manchester University NHS Foundation TrustR0A1267%8183%2850%24
North West Anglia NHS Foundation TrustRGN367%8333%6367%20
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation TrustRW5367%8933%6933%32
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS TrustRQW367%7233%6533%35
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS TrustRTP367%3467%20100%14
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation TrustRXX367%4667%32100%14
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustRBN367%79100%4933%41
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation TrustRNA560%88100%140%74
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRTF560%7580%240%51
Somerset NHS Foundation TrustRH5757%8686%4443%32
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustREM757%3986%557%28
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustRWE1553%5460%2867%29
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation TrustRPY2152%7457%5048%34
Imperial College Healthcare NHS TrustRYJ1650%10650%6050%30
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRAE1250%8492%2750%36
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS TrustRK9650%10683%1450%81
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRGM650%9050%5633%41
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation TrustRCU450%94100%3550%45
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation TrustRD1450%118100%1825%88
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation TrustRHW450%12650%6525%61
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRP6450%86100%2050%61
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS TrustRXF450%79100%4025%60
London North West University Healthcare NHS TrustR1K450%7575%3550%33
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustRHM2148%10857%4629%48
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRTH1844%11044%6239%39
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustRWA743%9643%6171%11
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustRX1743%12486%1543%73
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRRV3142%11758%4716%63
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustRV5540%9740%8460%25
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRM1540%9480%290%49
North Bristol NHS TrustRVJ1338%14954%5846%55
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRH8933%12356%2022%49
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRCB333%16333%8033%50
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustRRK1631%11844%7244%46
Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustRAL1030%12550%6630%52
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRQM729%15343%9143%31
The Christie NHS Foundation TrustRBV1926%14026%8447%31
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustRKB825%12838%9438%44
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS TrustRWF425%13125%7225%66
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS TrustRL4922%12456%2122%42
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRJ7922%15133%8122%70
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRGT1421%15429%7336%38
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustRJ11921%16232%11126%61
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRHQ520%11980%180%62
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation TrustRTG520%151100%5420%97
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustRR81817%2596%16228%95
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRTR617%16517%11750%36
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation TrustRA71315%17931%10523%75
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRJZ1513%15427%9227%54
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustREF1010%15850%6130%73
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRXN50%31120%1530%163
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS TrustRWH50%20220%11540%43
Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRA240%2920%19125%61

Sites that have delivered 2 studies or fewer

Trust nameTrust codeNumber of studies recuiting a participant% studies completing set-up within 90 days of approval or site selectionMedian days taken to complete set-up from study approval or site selection% studies opening at site within 60 days of approval or site selectionMedian days taken to site opening from study approval or site selection% studies recruiting first participant within 30 days of site openingMedian days taken to recruit first participant from site opening
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRD82100%59100%3950%21
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS TrustRXR2100%14100%4100%10
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustRWG1100%71100%190%52
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRWW1100%22100%4100%18
Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustRBK1100%37100%14100%23
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustRX31100%38100%28100%10
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRK51100%47100%25100%22
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS TrustRXK1100%33100%25100%8
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation TrustRVW1100%42100%90%33
Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation TrustREP1100%30100%17100%13
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS TrustR1A1100%27100%26100%1
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRN51100%71100%210%50
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRW11100%23100%10100%13
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS TrustRVR1100%54100%40100%14
East London NHS Foundation TrustRWK1100%53100%160%37
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRP51100%74100%220%52
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRXL1100%40100%21100%19
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRFF1100%73100%45100%28
Wye Valley NHS TrustRLQ250%18850%6250%126
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation TrustRA9250%87100%310%57
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustRMP250%9550%5850%37
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation TrustR0B250%95100%650%89
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS TrustRHU250%123100%1750%106
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS TrustRY3250%26150%16850%93
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustRAJ250%96100%3550%61
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation TrustRR7250%131100%260%106
Frimley Health NHS Foundation TrustRDU250%1340%9550%39
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRJR250%72100%3650%36
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation TrustRWY250%104100%150%103
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation TrustRQ3250%11050%91100%20
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation TrustRTX20%1200%8150%40
Whittington Health NHS TrustRKE20%202100%250%177
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustRJE20%21850%1060%112
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS TrustRXW20%23150%700%161
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation TrustRP420%16250%11650%47
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation TrustRJ820%38550%2760%109
Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustRNU10%153100%420%111
East Sussex Healthcare NHS TrustRXC10%207100%540%153
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustRWD10%214100%420%172
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation TrustRXE10%125100%330%92
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRPC10%3010%2660%35
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRHA10%5050%2350%270
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustRRE10%139100%140%125
Medway NHS Foundation TrustRPA10%1490%130100%19
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS TrustRY610%175100%400%135
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRNQ10%118100%450%73
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRGP10%2260%1070%119
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRQX10%2460%2050%41
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRN310%1110%800%31
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRTE10%3190%1860%133
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation TrustRDE10%233100%90%224
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation TrustRVV10%119100%350%84
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation TrustRY810%1750%910%84
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation TrustRX410%1030%75100%28
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation TrustRT110%1470%1160%31
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS TrustRXQ10%124100%600%64
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustRF410%151100%40%147
Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRTK10%347100%80%339
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS TrustRX80------
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation TrustRRF0------
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRBL0------
Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation TrustRY70------
West Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustRGR0------
West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation TrustRYA0------
West London NHS TrustRKL0------
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation TrustR0D0------
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation TrustRET0------
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRRJ0------
The Rotherham NHS Foundation TrustRFR0------
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRL10------
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRAS0------
Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation TrustRNK0------
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation TrustRX20------
Sussex Community NHS Foundation TrustRDR0------
Stockport NHS Foundation TrustRWJ0------
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustRYF0------
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation TrustRXG0------
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS TrustRQY0------
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation TrustRJC0------
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustRYD0------
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustRYE0------
Shropshire Community Health NHS TrustR1D0------
Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustTAH0------
Salisbury NHS Foundation TrustRNZ0------
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS TrustRAN0------
Pennine Care NHS Foundation TrustRT20------
Oxleas NHS Foundation TrustRPG0------
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation TrustRJL0------
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRP10------
Northampton General Hospital NHS TrustRNS0------
North West Ambulance Service NHS TrustRX70------
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS TrustRLY0------
North London NHS Foundation TrustG6V2S0------
North East London NHS Foundation TrustRAT0------
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustRX60------
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustRNN0------
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustRMY0------
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRBT0------
Mersey Care NHS Foundation TrustRW40------
London Ambulance Service NHS TrustRRU0------
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRBQ0------
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation TrustRP70------
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS TrustRY50------
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS TrustRJ20------
Leicestershire Partnership NHS TrustRT50------
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation TrustRGD0------
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation TrustRAX0------
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation TrustRYY0------
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS TrustRXY0------
Isle of Wight NHS TrustR1F0------
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation TrustRV90------
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustRWR0------
Hertfordshire Community NHS TrustRY40------
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation TrustRCD0------
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustRXV0------
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation TrustRTQ0------
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustR1L0------
East of England Ambulance Service NHS TrustRYC0------
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS TrustRX90------
East Cheshire NHS TrustRJN0------
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation TrustRDY0------
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRBD0------
Devon Partnership NHS TrustRWV0------
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRXM0------
Dartford and Gravesham NHS TrustRN70------
Croydon Health Services NHS TrustRJ60------
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS TrustRYG0------
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation TrustRXP0------
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation TrustRXA0------
Central London Community Healthcare NHS TrustRYX0------
Central and North West London NHS Foundation TrustRV30------
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS TrustRYV0------
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRY20------
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustTAD0------
Bolton NHS Foundation TrustRMC0------
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustTAJ0------
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRYW0------
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustRXT0------
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustRWX0------
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRC90------
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS TrustRVN0------
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation TrustRBS0------
Airedale NHS Foundation TrustRCF0------