SR Forum highlights the importance of effective patient and public engagement

12 Jan 2018

The Faculty’s Social Responsibility Public Engagement forum meet.

Child taking part in social responsibility activity

The Faculty’s Social Responsibility Public Engagement forum met this week. This group plays an essential role in driving forward the Faculty’s Public Engagement action plan, which is integral to our Social Responsibility strategy.

With representation from public contributors, Schools, Divisions and key external stakeholders, the forum ensures that the Faculty develops, delivers and monitors an action plan for successful and meaningful Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). Successful grants recently awarded to the Faculty (e.g. NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Trust and Heritage Lottery funding) have all had strong PPIE embedded within through involving and engaging with patients and the public.

At the meeting Alan Campbell was appointed Lay Chair of the forum. Alan is one of our public contributors, who also sits on the PPIE forum for the Health eResearch Centre (HERC) , a digital-health network that provides research and education across Northern England. HERC attended the meeting to present a review of major research funding bodies’ PPI requirements and provisions available to our research staff.

The forum also reviewed recent work on developing standards and governance of PPIE and the latest Public Contributor Induction Pack, as well as lively discussion on the importance of PPIE and how the Faculty can support everyone for mutual benefit.

Stephanie Snow, Academic Lead for Community Engagement and Involvement and the forum’s co- chair, said:

“Patient and public involvement and engagement across research and teaching is vital to helping us meet our goal of making a positive impact on the health and well-being of our local communities and wider society. The forum brings together people with excellent skills and experience. I’m confident that by working together we will achieve our aim of helping to shape and develop best practice in PPIE.”

The forum’s Terms of Reference can be found HERE.

For more information on the Faculty’s Public Engagement, please go to: https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/connect/social-responsibility/communities/ or contact Hawys Williams.