User Partnership Group
The NHS research and development strategy is committed to involving members of the public in the work it undertakes, not only as participants in research studies, but also as active collaborators in the research process. In response to this, at the end of 2007 we set up our first user partnership group (UPG).
Aim and Purpose
The aim and purpose of this group is to involve public service users in the research processes that the POCPRG group undertake. Whilst the majority of our work is conducted on patients, in the form of questionnaires and interviews, we also wish to involve the public in the processes of research. By involvement, we envisage that the public will help us by collaborating during key stages of research. For example, public involvement may take the form of having an input in the design of a research project, giving an opinion on research proposals, evaluating information and questionnaire packages, or disseminating the results of our research to wider interest groups.The Group
Our user group currently meets twice a year to discuss ongoing research projects and to plan future activities. The group consists of 11 service users, who are members of the public with personal experiences of cancer either as patients or carers (or both), and 2 researchers, Dr Kate Absolom and Helen Jones.
Members at the July 2011 meeting of the User Partnership Group with Prof Galina Velikova, Kate & Helen
