What have you been involved in at the Health Research Authority?
The main thing is this work that we are currently doing on the website, which is really interesting.
The other thing is that I sat on an interview panel for a senior member of staff, as a member of the public. I think there were 3 or 4 of us sat there. We interviewed the applicants, and we asked them what their attitude was to public involvement.
Then obviously we scored them and so forth – just like anyone applying for a job. They had to give us a presentation. Again, to me it was showing me the commitment of HRA to genuinely involving the public in their work, which is really very good.
And of course, sitting on this group here, and doing this video (hi!), is all about public involvement at the HRA and what they want members of the public to do within the group.
How do you think the work of the HRA is improved by involving patients and the public?
It has been quite interesting. I think there has been a commitment from HRA that we – members of the public - have a genuine say in exactly what goes on the website. Members of the public can basically read our words, our input, as members of the public.
I think the difficulty is that the HRA is a fairly complex body. I’m not necessarily sure that we all understand. But perhaps from the bits that we don’t understand - and asking the questions - when the actual website does really go live, those questions that we didn’t understand - and which members of the public may have the same - will be on the website.
Members of the public can have a look and then have their questions answered because we’ve been asking them and pushing for them.