How can we improve care for patients recovering from acute pancreatitis following discharge from hospital?
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden swelling of the pancreas that sends thousands of people to hospital each year. While most people recover enough to be discharged, many face lasting issues at home, such as tummy pain, digestion trouble, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. Currently, there is no standard NHS follow-up plan for these patients. The PANORAMA study aims to change that. Researchers from the University of Birmingham want to find out what support people truly need after leaving hospital. The study involves surveys, online interviews, and regular check-in questionnaires for patients, family carers, and healthcare professionals across the UK. Taking part does not involve any new medicines or hospital treatments. Instead, sharing your personal experiences will help NHS doctors and nurses design better, more supportive recovery plans to help future patients stay healthy and avoid returning to hospital.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden and painful condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas is a small organ located behind the stomach that produces juices to help digest food and hormones to control blood sugar. Every year, thousands of people across the UK are admitted to hospital because of this illness. While doctors and nurses help patients get well enough to go home, leaving the hospital is often not the end of the journey. Many people continue to struggle with ongoing pain, tummy problems, difficulty absorbing food, or changes in their blood sugar levels. It can also take a heavy toll on mental health, causing worry, low mood, and anxiety about becoming ill again.
At the moment, NHS hospitals across the country do not follow a single, standard plan for checking on people once they leave hospital after acute pancreatitis. Some people receive follow-up appointments, while others may feel left to cope on their own, occasionally ending up back in hospital when problems arise. The PANORAMA study was created to fix this gap. Researchers want to understand exactly what care and support people receive right now, what works well, and what needs to be improved so that everyone gets the help they need.
To do this, the research team is listening directly to the people who know best: patients, their family carers, and the NHS staff who care for them. By gathering these real-world stories and tracking patient recovery over several months, the researchers will build a clear set of recommendations. These will guide the NHS in creating standard, supportive care plans that give future patients the best possible chance of a full and smooth recovery at home.
Key takeaways
- The PANORAMA study aims to design better NHS follow-up care for people recovering from acute pancreatitis.
- Participation involves sharing your views through surveys, one-hour virtual interviews, or recovery questionnaires.
- There are no new drugs, clinical treatments, or extra hospital visits involved.
- Patients aged 16 and over, their family carers, and NHS healthcare workers can all take part.
- Joining is completely voluntary, and you can stop taking part at any time without affecting your NHS care.
Who may be eligible?
This study is open to several different groups of people across the UK aged 16 and over. You may be able to take part if you have personally been treated in an NHS hospital for acute pancreatitis as an adult, or if you are currently in hospital recovering from it and are about to be discharged. Family members and informal carers who have supported someone through acute pancreatitis are also warmly invited to take part.
Doctors, specialist nurses, GPs, and other NHS healthcare professionals who care for people with acute pancreatitis can also join the study to share their professional views.
You might not be able to join certain parts of the study if you cannot give informed consent for yourself, if your care was not provided within the UK NHS, or if you were treated as a child. Some parts of the study require a basic understanding of English, although language support and translation can be arranged for some interviews.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- I am aged 16 or older.
- I have been treated in the NHS for acute pancreatitis as an adult, OR I care for someone who has.
- Alternatively, I am an NHS doctor, nurse, GP, or health worker caring for these patients.
- I live in the UK and had my care provided by the NHS.
- I am happy to share my thoughts and experiences through surveys, questionnaires, or online chats.
What does participation involve?
Because this study looks at how care is delivered rather than testing new medicines, taking part does not involve taking any drugs or undergoing medical procedures. Depending on which part of the study you join, you might be asked to complete an online survey, take part in a one-hour virtual chat from home, or attend an online workshop to help design future NHS care guidelines.
If you join the study while in hospital, you will be asked to fill in questionnaires about your physical health, mood, digestion, and quality of life. You will complete the first questionnaire when you leave hospital, and then fill in short follow-ups after 7 days, 28 days, 3 months, and 6 months. Each questionnaire takes about 30 minutes and can be completed from home. In total, your participation may last from a single short survey up to six months of occasional check-ins.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (21)
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustCity onlyBirmingham, England
- Somerset NHS Foundation TrustCity onlyTaunton, England
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustCity onlyLeeds, England
- Manchester University NHS Foundation TrustCity onlyManchester, England
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustCity onlyYork, England
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustUnverifiedLiverpool, England
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustUnverifiedOxford, England
- NHS LothianUnverifiedEdinburgh, Scotland
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation TrustUnverifiedWarwick, England
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation TrustUnverifiedBristol, England
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustUnverifiedNottingham, England
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS TrustUnverifiedMaidstone, England
Common questions
Will taking part affect my current NHS treatment or care?
No. Taking part is completely voluntary and will not alter your normal medical care, medicines, or appointments in any way.
Do I need to take any new medications or have tests?
No. This study does not test any new drugs, injections, or invasive medical procedures. It only involves surveys, interviews, and questionnaires.
Can I take part from home?
Yes. Most activities, including surveys, follow-up questionnaires, and interviews, are completed online or over the phone from the comfort of your home.
Can family members or carers join the study?
Yes. The researchers are very keen to hear from family members and carers, as supporting someone through recovery provides vital insights into care needs.
What happens if I start the study but decide I want to stop?
You are free to leave the study at any point. You do not need to give a reason, and your decision will not affect your relationship with your healthcare team.
How to find out more
Michala Pettitt
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
Discussion
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