Developing patient and public involvement ambasssadors in clinical research in NHS organisation

2014 Conference

Abstract: The role of patient and public involvement in the design and running of research trials is becoming increasingly important as researchers strive to discover the clinical questions that matter to patients and their loved ones. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds the national advisory group INVOLVE, which aims to build support for active public involvement in NHS and public health research. However, it is also important that public involvement begins at the grassroots level within individual research departments and NHS trusts. With this in mind, the Clinical Research Ambassador Group (CRAG) was set up in 2013. A 12-month structured involvement plan has been implemented to deliver training activities including Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and general research oversight.

Research meetings were hosted by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) and the Academic Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care, Pain and Resuscitation. A large turnout of patients, relatives, clinicians, researchers, managers and directors came together with the aim of promoting patient and public involvement. Meetings provided a platform for clinicians to present their research ideas so that interested patients and members of the public may be allocated to the project team from inception.

A database of 30 cross-specialty CRAG members has been developed and each member was invited to support research activity depending on their interest areas and level of  commitment, for example attending face-to-face meetings, email correspondence and teleconferences. Successful patient and public involvement collaborations have been set up in anaesthesia, emergency medicine, and trauma and orthopaedics.

The close working relationship with our CRAG group has been commended by various funding bodies and has hugely benefited HEFT research team activity.