I work for the University of Kent where I head up a research unit in primary and community care. I have a long standing interest in patient and public involvement sparked by my previous experience as a community nurse, and as someone living with a long term condition. My research interests are in patient experience and public involvement particularly in relationship to long term conditions. Amongst my current research projects I lead on a National Institute for Health Research funded project (RAPPORT) evaluating processes, impact and outcomes of patient and public involvement in health research.