Cancer patients and their families will share their views on innovative solutions to support their care through a newly-established group.
The Patient and Public Involvement in Innovation group has been established by the West of Scotland Innovation Hub (WoSIH) , the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and the Beatson Cancer Charity.
Its aim is to understand the types of digital, data-driven and device solutions that could best support patients and their families.
The group is being led by Oncologist and Cancer Innovation Lead Professor Ioanna Nixon, Karen Bell, Cancer Research Network Manager at the Beatson, Dr Katriona Brooksbank, Research and Innovation Lead for the WoSIH and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and WoSIH Industry Collaboration Project Manager Ray Syed.
They hope their engagement with cancer impacted communities will help them prioritise opportunities for innovation in patients’ care pathways.
Prof Nixon explained that the need for the PPI in Innovation group was identified through the Hub’s iCARE project, which aims to empower cancer patients and clinicians from a wide range of backgrounds to co-design and deliver innovations in an effort to improve care experience and outcomes.
She said: “This will enable staff, patients and carers to share innovation priorities.
“End to end innovation is key to the West of Scotland Innovation Hub and partnership with our patients and carers is essential.
“This to ensure our priorities align with theirs to deliver meaningful outcomes to them and our services.
“Listening to patients and carers is at the heart of our actions and this group is a vehicle to voice their needs, concerns and priorities.”
Dr Brooksbank added: “The WoSIH is always looking at new ways to collaborate and support innovation that will help improve health and social care.
“We are delighted with the establishment of a PPI in Innovation group which will allow us to listen to patients and understand what matters to them and the types of innovative solutions that could best support them.”
The next PPI group workshop will be held in February. For more information, please contact karen.bell17@nhs.scot or rasheeq.syed@nhs.scot
