Resources

Developing a Regional Approach to Remuneration for Public Involvement in Health and Care Research

Introduction

There is a long-standing commitment to ensure that there is reward and recognition for public involvement in health and care research and most funders (NIHR, HRA etc.) now expect remuneration to be costed into research proposals. This is NOT being a research participant (taking part in an interview, focus group or completing a survey, trial etc.) this is for being a member of the research team or, what is known as a PPI (patient, public involvement) group.

Remuneration for being what is known as a ‘public contributor’ (service user, expert by experience, lay member) means financial recognition for a public contributors’ time, skills and expertise. In addition all out of pocket expenses should be covered in full.

A North East North Cumbria Remuneration Working Group has been meeting since 2021 to share good practice, address challenges and to work towards developing a regional approach.

This group has involved representatives from each of the regional university finance teams as well as NIHR research infrastructure organisations, public contributors and has been chaired by the Director of the NIHR ARC (Applied Research Collaboration).

This summary – which you can download below – has been agreed and produced by the working group