IAHS Service Users' Group
Background
Starting in 2009, the University broke new ground by introducing a programme of Patient & Public Involvement in research at its Department of Academic Primary Care on the Foresterhill Campus in the City.
A small group of staff headed up by Pat Schofield (now Professor of Nursing at University of Greenwich) recruited a team of people with experience of pain and closely connected conditions to form an Advisory Panel for the study being conducted (EOPIC, detailed elsewhere). The then Aberdeen Pain Research Collaboration showed interest and took advantage of the opportunity to develop a direct link with patients (existing and prospective) by inviting some of the Panel to form what is currently the IAHS Service Users' Group.
Current Activity
Membership has coalesced and remains effective and productive in providing health researchers in University of Aberdeen with opportunities to present aspects of their studies for critical comment and recommendation. It may be early days but demand grows steadily, with praise following each piece of work we complete.
There seems to be a growing need for the Group but we can't stand still and are examining how we can increase impact from our core services and are initiating developments in a number of ways. This activity is being aided by Professor C Bond who is enthusiastically backing our moves into other conditions where our patient experience and opinions may be of benefit to University researchers. Towards that aim, we are considering asbestos related conditions as a first move; we are also making contact with other groups having patient and public engagement to establish a network we may access for required expertise.
Contacts
Ron Marsh chairs the Services User's Group and will be happy to meet anyone wishing to make use of our services. PLease contact Ron in the first instance at r.marsh@abdn.ac.uk, after which the Group will arrange to meet you and have a cordial but critical discussion on patient perspectives on your study.