A coronavirus recovery trial has recruited its first patient to help find treatments for the disease.
Staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital have been working hard over the last week to start a coronavirus recovery trial.
The hospital announced on Wednesday that the first person is now on the trial.
The study will look into different treatments for the disease that could help adults hospitalised with confirmed cases of Covid-19.
The recovery trial is the one of three studies the hospital is conducting to better understand the virus, who is at risk and why people are getting so seriously ill.
A spokesperson for the hospital said: "First patient recruited to the recovery trial!
"The study aims to evaluated different treatments that may be beneficial for adults hospitalised with confirmed Covid-19.
"Proud of our research, consultant and pharmacy staff for all their hard work in getting the trial up and running."
The other studies at the Royal Bolton Hospital includes a collection of data from patients who tested positive for the virus.
Researchers will find out information about travel, who they may have picked up the virus from, age, background and other details to help get a better understanding of the virus and those who are most at risk.
This trial is being rolled out nationally by Public Health England.
The remaining trial was looking into influenza, but has now been extended to research the coronavirus. The trial is being organised by the University of Edinburgh.
DNA samples from patients with the virus are being taken - the patients involved are those who have been admitted to critical care units but have no previous medical history that might have put them at an increased risk.
This will help doctors understand why these kinds of patients have been so ill.
The research is being done under strict infection controls.
Research Nurse Scott Latham, who is co-ordinating the research for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This research is really important in understanding and tackling the virus. We’re proud that here in Bolton we’re doing our bit to help.”
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