NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands

Description

The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Collaborative Leadership for Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands aims to bridge the gap between what healthcare researchers learn about how to improve the services the NHS delivers and that knowledge being put into practice. This is achieved through collaboration between the academic partners, patients, the general public and the region’s NHS Organisations. Proactive partnership working ensures that knowledge is shared as widely as possible and that quality of healthcare research improves with services improving based on the research findings resulting in better outcomes for patients.

Public involvement in research

Public Involvement in NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands is embedded in projects and activities. With a Patient Public Partners’ Council which has representation at Management and Executive Board levels as well as theme steering group meetings. Many of the project teams have active collaboration with PPI members and have had a significant impact in the project direction and outcomes. The East Midlands Centre for Black and Minority Ethnic Health is being developed and we support local PPI groups and link in with community groups, working closely with the region’s Healthwatches and Community and Voluntary Sector organisations, enabling us to capture the real needs of the East Midlands population and disseminate the latest health research information to diverse communities.

Training for service users and carers to work as partners in research is available along with PPI learning and development for clinical staff, research teams and individuals.  All PPI members are fully supported through their involvement and further opportunities provided.