Patients arriving at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for elective surgery during 19-26 May 2014 could be invited to take part in an International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS).

The aim of the study is to learn more about surgical treatment and outcomes worldwide including the frequency, severity and nature of any complications. The findings could, in turn, act as a catalyst for new research trials to examine anomalies more closely.

To be eligible, the patient has to be 18 years or older and have a planned overnight stay in hospital. Patients will be followed up until hospital discharge or for a maximum of 30 days, whichever is shorter.

Nilesh Parekh, lead consultant for the ISOS study at the QEHB, said: "The findings of this research will be used to help health professionals worldwide to reduce levels of surgical complications in patients and we are delighted to be playing our role in the study.

"All eligible patients will be invited to take part in the study. We will provide a full explanation of the significance of this non-interventional study and what this means for the patient when they arrive.

"We hope to capture data on around 300 patients during the study week and look forward to enrolling as many patients as possible."

Further information on the ISOS study can be found by visiting the website below.