Members are being sought for a new East Midlands body that aims to place patients at the very heart of health service decision making.

The Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Senate, which is being set up by the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, will act as a sounding board and critical friend to NHS trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups and other healthcare organisations, ensuring that the voices of patients are central to decision making at all levels.

The PPI Senate will comprise up to 25 members, all experts in patient and public involvement.

They will provide expert, independent advice and will support organisations to adopt innovative approaches to involving patients and the public in the review of existing, and the development of new health services. Advice and support could include:

• Running effective consultations
• Supporting the set-up of bespoke patient involvement groups
• Ensuring the needs of 'seldom heard' groups, and people from Black and Minority Ethnic groups are central when making decisions about future healthcare services
• Getting members of the public involved in healthcare and healthcare research

The PPI Senate will launch during the autumn and the Academic Health Science Network is inviting applications from people with an established track record in public and patient involvement. Senators will serve for between one and three years and the PPI Senate will meet at least four times each year.

Professor Rachel Munton, Managing Director of the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, said: "Involving patients in decision making is the best way to respond to new health challenges and make sure that services continue to meet local needs.

"NHS agencies are already doing a great job to involve patients; the role of the PPI Senate will be to support and help them to identify opportunities to build on their success to date.

"This will be the first time that a dedicated body has been created to champion public engagement across the whole of the East Midlands, and our aim is for the region to become one of the UK's centres of excellence for involving patients, carers and the public in the future of healthcare."

For more information visit the PPI page of our website. 

People can also keep up to date with the latest information about the development of the Senate by signing up to Public Face, the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network's regular newsletter featuring patient and public involvement updates, guides, volunteering opportunities and resources.