Shared NIHR commitments to public involvement, participation and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic
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The NIHR Public Involvement Senior Leadership Team (SLT) - which includes leads for public involvement across NIHR Coordinating Centres, public members and partners - has agreed new commitments for patient and public involvement, engagement and participation (PIE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These eight commitments are aligned to the UK Standards for Public Involvement and will shape a shared NIHR approach to maintaining and progressing PIE during this period.
1. We will stay informed, and keep contributors and our colleagues informed - in a timely way - of developments across NIHR research (commissioning and programmes) which relate, or are relevant to, COVID-19 (UKPI Standards: Communication) |
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2. We will reach out to emerging COVID-19 and other research funding programmes and activities to offer support and help facilitate effective involvement, participation and engagement, including help to adapt methods and approaches where needed (UKPI Standards: Support and Learning) |
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3. We will involve the public and patients in planning ahead for how COVID-19 may affect work, to develop contingencies and to manage risks (UKPI Standards: Governance) |
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4. We will be flexible, and co-develop adaptive ways of working, which demonstrate understanding of – and are responsive to – the needs and concerns of individuals, groups and communities whilst respecting Government and institutional guidance (UKPI Standards: Working Together) |
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5. We will identify and review support needs for adaptive ways of working (e.g. remote or digital), and work together to address these (UKPI Standards: Inclusive Opportunities; Support and Learning) |
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6. We will share skills, knowledge, ideas and resources freely and in a timely way to support effective PIE, and to help identify and address obstacles across the system (UKPI Standards: Support and Learning) |
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7. We will ensure that patient and public contributors continue to be recognised and rewarded appropriately for their effort, and adapt how we do this together (UKPI Standards: Impact; Working Together) |
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8. We will agree appropriate contact plans (e.g: between public/patient contributors and Leads, or between Leads), to support each other’s social contact and emotional wellbeing (UKPI Standards: Governance; Communication) |
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Acknowledgement and thanks to Steven Blackburn, PIE Leads from the SLT, and Tina Coldham, who developed this set of commitments.