Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) has joined more than thirty national health organisations in pledging to improve public involvement in health and social care research.
Recently, OH CRF signed the Health Research Authority’s (HRA) Shared Commitment to Public Involvement in Health and Social Care Research, an initiative designed to raise standards and embed meaningful collaboration with patients, carers, and communities.
The Shared Commitment recognises that public involvement is not only possible but essential in all types of health and social care research. Evidence shows that involving people with lived experience improves research quality and impact. The statement affirms that everyone has the right to be involved and calls for inclusive approaches that value contributions and influence outcomes, in line with the UK Standards for Public Involvement.
By signing up, OH CRF commits to supporting researchers to deliver excellent public involvement. This includes sharing guidance and resources, listening and learning from communities, building evidence of impact, and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion. The pledge also emphasises embedding these principles into organisational decision-making.
A new OH CRF webpage has been launched, which explains what the Shared Commitment means for researchers and members of the public. It is aimed at anyone interested in shaping research including patients, carers, service users, advocates, and community members, as well as research teams seeking practical advice on best practice.
Dr Karl Marlowe, Chief Medical Officer, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Public involvement is not an optional extra in health research, it is fundamental. Through our membership of the HRA Shared Commitment, Oxford Health, as the NHS host of several NIHR grants, is strengthening its commitment to working in partnership with patients, carers and communities, recognising the vital role lived experience plays in improving the quality, relevance and societal benefit of research.”
Professor Andrea Cipriani, Director of OH CRF, said:
“Signing the HRA Shared Commitment reflects our belief that public involvement strengthens research at every stage. By working in genuine partnership with patients, carers and communities, we can ensure that studies hosted by OH CRF are relevant, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience.
“This commitment supports our researchers to embed meaningful involvement into their work, ultimately improving the quality, impact and trustworthiness of health and social care research.”
Learn more about Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation at OH CRF.
