User and public involvement

At NHS Direct we are committed to the active involvement of members of the public, patients and users in our research, service evaluation and clinical audit.

Why do we want to involve our users and the public?

User and public involvement is a vital part of NHS Direct. Not only are the views of our users crucial to the improvement of our services, but user involvement in research and clinical audit helps ensure that this work is useful, relevant and of high quality.  

  • Those who use services offered by NHS Direct will have a valued opinion on topics that could be investigated via research, service evaluation or clinical audit. This could be suggestions for services that need improving or expanding, or ideas for new areas of development.
  • Consultation with members of the public helps us to ensure that our work is prioritised in a way that is relevant to current and potential users of NHS Direct’s services.
  • User and public involvement also helps us to ensure that the questions asked in research, service evaluation and clinical audit, and the outcomes that are measured, are those that are identified as important to the public and to health professionals.
  • Involvement of our users helps us to ensure equality and diversity in participant recruitment, particularly in accessing ‘harder to reach’ communities.
  • Users and members of the public can help us to ensure that research findings are published and communicated in ways that are appropriate and accessible for the participants and target audiences.
  • User and public involvement is now a necessity for the granting of many funding opportunities and for approval by Research Ethics Committees. It is increasingly a benchmark for high quality research and clinical audit.

What do we mean by involvement?

Involvement means inviting our users or other members of the public to be fully involved in any of the stages of our research, service evaluation or clinical audit.

Areas in which users and the public can be involved include:

  • Membership of research and clinical audit committees. These committees determine priorities and annual work plans. They also monitor ongoing work.
  • Help with the design of research, service evaluation and clinical audit projects.
  • Making suggestions for participant recruitment techniques and advising on appropriate language for information sheets.
  • Making suggestions for data collection tools.
  • Assisting in the review of findings and then advising on the publication and communication of such findings in ways that are accessible to the general public.

Do we only involve people with research skills?

No, we welcome anyone who has an interest in being involved in our research, service evaluation or clinical audit.

Any necessary support and training will be provided by NHS Direct. This training will include an introduction to the services that NHS Direct offers, and an overview of the work done by the Research and Clinical Audit Team.

Anyone working with us will be taken through the various stages of the research, service evaluation or audit process so they can decide which areas interest them specifically. Training tailored to these areas will be given as needed.

If I am interested in getting involved, how will I benefit?

The views and opinions of our users are highly valued. If you get involved you will be making a contribution to NHS Direct, and gaining an inside view of how NHS Direct’s processes work.

Anyone who becomes involved will also receive training in research and clinical audit methodology, and have the opportunity to learn a variety of new skills and meet new people.

How to register an interest

We are not currently recruiting for any research projects.

Please check back again soon, to see what opportunities are available for your chance to become involved in our research, service evaluation or clinical audit projects.

Additional information

Further information on involvement in research can be found at
INVOLVE, the national advisory body funded by the Department of Health to promote and support public involvement in the NHS.

INVOLVE have produced a Public Information Pack which comprises four booklets for members of the public interested in getting involved in research.

The booklets can be ordered by emailing , viewed online or downloaded from the INVOLVE website at www.invo.org.uk. The Department of Health guidance on involvement can be found in the document Real Involvement: Working with People to Improve Health Services (October 2008).

 

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