Help improve health services in Wales.

Help researchers  share the findings from their research to improve health care.

Health services need reliable information from research to help them make decisions about patient care. Research offers valuable insights into what makes health services or policies successful or unsuccessful, how patients and healthcare professionals behave and what living with an illness is truly like. The research evidence also helps us better understand the varied experiences of patients.

Although the number of research evidence summaries has grown in recent years, many of these studies are not reported clearly, which makes it difficult for patients, NHS staff and decision-makers to trust or use the information. Without clear guidelines, important insights might be missed, reducing their ability to improve healthcare.

To ensure that qualitative evidence is helpful, researchers need to produce high-quality summaries and present them in an understandable way. However, there is currently no updated guidance on how to achieve this so they would like your help to shape this guidance.

What experience do I need to help?

• Comfortable with group discussions
• Experience in reviewing research papers to gather insights and information
• Have patient and public involvement (PPI) experience of evidence synthesis

What will I be asked to do?

You will be asked to join an advisory group with five other public members. Together, you will help develop guidelines that will make it easier to use research results in healthcare decisions and patient care. 

Your role will include: 

1. Contributing to discussions at project advisory group meetings
2. Looking over and sharing your thoughts on drafts of the guidelines and related documents.
3. Reading and giving feedback on information sheets for participants.
4. Evaluating how helpful existing examples of research findings are.

Support and training will be provided, if required. 

How long will I be needed for?

You will be needed for - three full day advisory group meetings, pre-meeting briefing available as needed. The provisional dates for these meetings are June 2025, September 2025, May 2026. Other tasks may be undertaken up to the project end (March 2027).

What are some of the benefits for me?

Receive training (as needed) to access online documents, online meetings and any aspects of qualitative evidence syntheses.

What support is offered?

• Cover reasonable travel expenses and additional carer or childcare costs,
• Offer payment for time of £25.00 per hour (people can request less if they are in receipt of state benefits).
• Supported by a named contact person who is the Patient and Public Involvement Lead for the project.

Have a look at our guidelines for more information about this. 

If you are receiving any benefits, you can access confidential advice from the Benefits Advice Service for Involvement.  

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