Personal

Local and national policy increasingly emphasises the central role of service users and the public in shaping Health and Social Care (HSC).

This is the second edition of the HSC R&D Division’s Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) Strategy, which highlights the importance of involving patients and the public in research and outlines the progress already made in implementing PPI in research in Northern Ireland.

This is the first annual report of the Regional Health and Social Care Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum. It gives a brief introduction into the concept of PPI, which seeks to involve service users and the public in the planning, delivery and commissioning of services across healthcare in Northern Ireland. The report also provides a background to the development of PPI in Northern Ireland and details on the establishment of the forum.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) is an integral element of effective commissioning and is underpinned by a core set of values and principles - involving and listening to people in order to help us make services better.

It brings about a number of recognised benefits if fully embraced into our culture and practice, these include: