INVOLVE 6th National Conference Public Involvement in Research – getting it right and making a difference

INVOLVE promotes public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research, funded through the National Institute for Health Research. On 11th-12th November over 350 people came together for INVOLVE’s 6th National Conference, in Nottingham University, to discuss Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Research.

The conference was opened by Joan Saddler, OBE, National Director of Patient and Public Affairs, Department of Health, who raised the topics of the inclusion, involvement and engagement of all people in the commissioning and delivery of health and social care services. Further presentations, workshops and posters were delivered by speakers from a variety or backgrounds, from service users to service user researchers, lecturers to funding representatives. Posters were displayed from the Children and Young People’s Research Network, Thematic Research Network for Emergency and UnScheduled Treatment, Diabetes Research Network, All Wales Alliance for Research and Development, DECIPHer and Involving People.

There was a strong Welsh presence at the conference, and service user members of the Involving People Network attended, along with members of the Involving People team and CRC Cymru, and gave their feedback:

"We particularly enjoyed Angela Barnard’s Workshop contribution, ‘We are in the room but what effect are we having?’. She knew how it felt to be a service user and had extensive knowledge of involvement."

"I have learnt more about the different types of involvement. How researches see service users and how service users see researches."

"This event has served to strengthen my resolve to further the voice of the public’s knowledge and experience wherever and whenever possible."

Towards the end of an exciting couple of days, Peter Beresford OBE, Director of the Centre for Citizen Participation, Brunel University, Chair Shaping Our Lives, summed up the emerging issues and areas for development. He discussed the topics of evaluating the impact of Patient and Public Involvement in research, the ongoing issue of payment for involvement and the need to improve access of involvement for all. The Conference gave delegates the opportunity to share knowledge and learning and make links with others involved in similar activities, providing a platform for research on PPI in research.

By Natalie Simon, Involving People Officer & Erica Howells, CRC Cymru Information and Communications Officer