NHS England’s Specialised Commissioning team is recruiting four patient and public voice partners to join the Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group (PPVAG). The role of the PPVAG is to provide assurance around communication and engagement with patients and the public on key areas of work carried out by the Specialised Commissioning Directorate. It is looking for applicants who can bring expertise in communications and engagement good practice, including techniques and / or assurance processes.

They are also recruiting for their Rare Diseases Advisory Group. 

Successful applicants will be reimbursed for their meeting/preparation time and expenses. For more information and to request an application pack please email england.voice-crg@nhs.net  The closing date for applications is 5 March 2017.

Also if you could like to volunteer to review their new policy about NHS England works with its patient and public voice (PPV) partners. The draft policy outlines different types of involvement roles and the support on offer to PPV partners. Volunteers will need to be available to join a webinar (online meeting) from 2-3pm on Friday 3 March 2017. If you would like to become a reviewer please email england.nhs.participation@nhs.net for more details.

The INQUIRE project:  Interviewing patients and the public  who have used the internet to express their views about healthcare , or have read other people’s comments.  

•  Have you ever read other people’sonline comments or posts about their views or experiences of healthcare ?
  
• Or perhaps you haveposted or written about your own health or healthcare experiences online?
• Are you 18 or over?

We would like to find out more about how and why patients and members of the public have used the internet to express their views about healthcare, or read other people’s comments. We are interested in people’s use of a range of internet platforms e.g. Twitter, YouTube, blogs, health forums, patient feedback websites and NHS complaints forums
 
If you have used the internet for this purpose, we would like to invite you to take part in an interview with one of our researchers.  An interview will typically last between 45 minutes and one hour. A  researcher could   interview you at your home, or elsewhere if you prefer.  Interviews may also take place by telephone or online if preferred.
 
If you are interested and would like to find out more about what is involved please contact:
Susan Kirkpatrick
Email: susan.kirkpatrick@phc.ox.ac.uk
Phone 07787 294170