Involvement Matters: Shaping the Future of Health and Social Care Research
Health and Social Care research has the power to improve lives — but for it to truly make a difference, it needs to reflect the experiences and priorities of the people it is meant to serve. That’s where Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) comes in.
PPI means research is carried out with or by patients, carers, service users, and members of the public — not just to, for, or about them. You can watch our PPI animation here.
The benefits of involvement are widely recognised and the UK Standards for Public Involvement provide a framework for what 'good' looks like, yet there remains no consensus on what specific actions or areas should be prioritised to strengthen effective involvement.
Involvement Matters — in association with the James Lind Alliance, is a regional approach that brings together the public, researchers, Health and Social Care professionals and members of the community and voluntary sector
We want to understand how we can get more people involved in making decisions about Health and Social Care research across Northern Ireland. In turn we believe that this will strengthen diversity in research and help reduce health inequalities.
Margaret Grayson, PIER member and Co-chair of Public Involvement & Priority Setting Sub-Group said “I would invite patients, carers, members of the public and researchers to complete the Involvement Matters survey and as a result, help set priorities so that PPI in Northern Ireland reflects the voices of all our communities".
Since launching the survey on the 9th September, we’ve had a fantastic response — with over 220 people already sharing their views and experiences!
These voices are helping us understand what really matters and where we can make the biggest difference.
There’s still time to have your say before the survey closes on 25 November 2025. We’re especially keen to hear from:
- People with previous PPI experience
- Young people (aged 16+)
- Early career researchers
Your insights will help shape the future of PPI in Northern Ireland — guiding future research, funding, and collaboration so that research truly works with and for the people it serves.
Take part today and help shape the future of public involvement in research:
Complete the survey here
If you require the survey in an alternative format, please contact Alan McMichael at Alan.McMichael@hscni.net or by phone on 07591 448603
You can also stay up to date with the project here.