HUNDREDS of Covid-19 patients in Essex have played a vital part in a trail-blazing move to develop treatments which have saved a million lives worldwide.

The Recovery research project has been taking place across Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals since March 2020.

It is an international clinical trial that sees volunteers with Covid-19 offered a variety of treatments to determine which ones are best at helping patients recover.

About 800 patients being cared for by the trust have stepped up to take part in the lifesaving trial.

The NHS has already led the development of the first-ever treatment for Covid-19 - dexamethasone - a medication which is said to have saved one million lives worldwide.

Ashley Solieri, group head of research for the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, said: “New treatments are always being added and removed from the trial as the research team in Oxford review the results to help identify treatments that may be beneficial for people hospitalised with suspected or confirmed Covid-19.”

The trust is one of the 180 sites across the world involved in the research, which so far has seen more than 39,000 people take part.

The project found dexamethasone was effective in reducing deaths by a third in those with severe respiratory complications caused by Covid.

One of those who has volunteered is Carol Allen, from Aveley, a recovering Covid patient in Basildon Hospital.

Carol, 65, was admitted to the hospital on January 12, after he kept collapsing at home whilst self-isolating.

The team has trialled him with several different treatments.

He said: “They have been so good to me. They put me on a course of steroids and tried the blood plasma as well when I first came in. I’m still on oxygen and that’s down to the research that was done on me.

“They are all angels and I don’t think I would be here if it was not for them. It has been really scary. I’ve been okay because I know the support is there from them.”

The news comes as the number of Covid-19 cases in Southend increased at the end of last week.

Public Health England figures show that 14,600 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday in Southend, up from 14,592 the same time on Thursday.

The rate of infection in Southend now stands at 7,973 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 6,722.

Across the rest of Essex, figures show that 112,326 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday, up from 112,247 the same time on Thursday.

Despite the slight rise in cases, the number of deaths from the virus in hospitals remained low over the weekend.

In England hospitals, just 18 deaths were recorded, with three of those in the East of England.

Ms Solieri said the continuing research is important in the fight against the virus.

The project has also discovered that another medication, hydroxychloroquine, showed no clinical benefit and convalescent blood plasma had no convincing effects.

These treatments have since been removed as treatments to fight the virus.

Ms Solieri added: “It can find answers to things that are unknown, filling in gaps in knowledge and changing the way healthcare professionals work.”

“We have good evidence that trusts involved in research have better patient outcomes. It benefits everyone and is making a real difference in people’s lives.

“It’s great to have almost 800 volunteers involved in this fight against Covid; everyone is playing their part.

“These amazing figures are down to the dedication of the research team and the amazing support of the clinical teams in the trust.

“The research team are contributing to the national and international body of knowledge that will help determine the best treatment for this virus.

“The trust is always looking for more people who have or have had Covid to take part in the important research.”

The UK lockdown restrictions have lifted as of yesterday, with people now allowed to meet outdoors in groups of up to six, or two separate households.

If you would like to take part in trials, you can contact Basildon Hospital on 01268 524900, Southend Hospital on 01702 385669 and Broomfield Hospital on 01245 515136.