Community and voluntary groups that provide important platforms for patients to shape local health services have received a funding boost from the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN).

The ten local ‘Patient and Public Involvement’ (PPI) groups have been awarded a total of £15,000 to help meet their running costs – supporting them to continue with their vital work to promote patient, carer and public involvement in healthcare delivery and health research across the East Midlands.

The groups exist to make sure that the experiences of patients and members of the public are at the heart of future decisions about health services. Each of the 10 groups to receive the funding focuses on a key health issue, ranging from cancer and diabetes to mental health, heart disease and dementia.

EMAHSN launched the fund because it recognises that the groups, all of which operate on a voluntary basis, can find it difficult to cover basic costs such as travel and members’ out-of-pocket expenses.

Rachel Munton, Managing Director of EMAHSN, said that just small amounts of funding can make a big difference and help ensure these essential groups can continue to thrive.

“Patient and Public Involvement groups are at the very heart of health service improvement,” she said. “The East Midlands has a great network made up of many hundreds of volunteers who commit their time to making sure that patients are listened to and that their experiences, ideas and feedback are taken on board by healthcare organisations.

“The groups reach out to many people who otherwise would not have the opportunity to contribute, including underserved communities and people living in rural areas without easy access to transport.

“EMAHSN recognises and values their contribution and these small grants will help to ensure the groups can continue to represent the views of patients and the public on some of the biggest health challenges facing our region.”

Applications for the grants were considered by the East Midlands Patient and Public Involvement (PPI Senate), an independent group of patients and public with varied health service user experience. The senate supports health and social care organisations to embed patient engagement.

Grants of £1,500 have been awarded to each of the following groups:

· Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland ageing and dementia research forum

· HAPPI (Healthy Ageing Patient Public Involvement) - Lincoln

· Greater Nottingham Patient and Carer Cancer Forum (GNCF)

· Lincoln E.P.O.C. (Early Presentation of Cancer)

· Nottinghamshire Deaf Wellbeing Action Group

· Leicestershire South Asian Diabetes UK Support Group

· ASK SNIFF Parent Panel – Northampton and Leicester

· Mental Wealth Involved Citizens - Nottingham

· HOPE – Hearts Of Positive Energy - Lincolnshire

· Cancer Research Patient and Public Involvement Advisory Group - Leicester

Examples of how the funding will be used:

Pauline Mountain, a volunteer from Hearts Of Positive Energy, said: “We will use this funding to extend our work to raise awareness of cardio vascular disease with some of the most vulnerable and difficult to engage communities. Our rural population means that volunteers have difficulty accessing transport and this funding will help us pay the expenses of volunteers so they can participate. Thank you.”

Sue Ormston from the Early Presentation of Cancer group said: “This extra support will enable us to continue our vital work in raising awareness of cancer signs and symptoms across our region. We will now be able to increase the participation of people who want to get involved and help us reach out to communities who do not often engage. ”

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Note to editors:

- The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks in England. EMAHSN brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the region’s 4.5M residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health, respiratory disease, stroke, liver disease and support for frail older people.

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