Two new co-chairs have been appointed to the EMAHSN-hosted East Midlands Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Senate, which provides independent advice and guidance for best practice patient and public engagement and involvement.

The Senate is made up of experienced and insightful patient and public contributors bringing invaluable patient and public perspectives. They provide independent advice and guidance both to the East Midlands AHSN and our region’s health and care system, ensuring the public are at the front and centre of what we do.

PPI Senate co-chairs play a vital role in steering the Senate by providing leadership, coordination and support to enable the PPI Senate to flourish. The co-chairs are also represented on the East Midlands AHSN Governance Board, which means patient co-production is at the heart of driving our strategic direction.

New co-chairs are selected every number of years and following a strong tenure, current chairs Kirit Mistry and Mark Russell have formally handed the baton to new chairs Veronica Price-Job and Susan Edge. Veronica and Susan have both been valuable Senate members for a number of years.

Independent Chair of EMAHSN, Martin Hindle, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Kirit and Mark for their work as Senate co-chairs. All of our Senate members give their time voluntarily to support the health and care system and taking that lead role as co-chairs is extremely important to ensure the Senate operates as effectively as possible.

I’m sure Kirit and Mark will join me in congratulating Veronica and Susan on their appointment as co-chairs. I look forward to hearing about the continued valuable work of the Senate in such a pivotal time to our health and care system.”

Speaking about his time as co-chair, Kirit said: “My motivation to join the Senate was to champion greater equality and diversity of patient and carer representation.

In my role as co-chair, I have had the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge and I have had lots of great experiences such as the opportunity to lead and participate in PPI Leadership events, co-production workshops and a long term conditions event to further engage as a patient with diabetes and to share my work with the South Asian Diabetes Support Group (a group I set up in Leicestershire) and also engage on NHS CCG diabetes delivery group for Leicester City CCG. These experiences wouldn’t have been possible without being part of the EMAHSN PPI Senate and I am very grateful for the opportunities.”

Reflecting on his six years as co-chair, Mark said: “My personal motivation for taking on the role of co-chair was, amongst other things, to develop a Senate that was as diverse as possible, yet at the same time gave a range of representation of networks and relationships with organisations, condition groups and communities. To create an environment that could encourage and challenge the status quo position of patients and the public and advance their ability to contribute to the future of health and social care.

Six years has passed faster than one can imagine. It has been an honour to serve as the co-chair, with a group of members whose depth and breadth of knowledge, practical experience, insights and lived experience has been one which will stay with me for a long time. If you are someone who thinks they could make a contribution in this sphere, and who has a passion to get things done then I would encourage you to consider applying for a potential position on the Senate.”

Both Kirit and Mark will remain as Senate members, using their valuable experience to support our work and the region’s health and care system.

Read Veronica and Susan’s introductory blog.