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Listen to the issues and opinions around health and care Podcasts If you want to know more about the research we do and some of the issues and ethical considerations around health an care we have a series of podcasts which often explore issues is greater depth. Often you will be able to hear from different voices in the community who can provide a fresh perspective on conditions or experiences of health and care in different settings. Sam Belfrage a PhD Student with ARC Wessex has produced a series of SIX podcasts with patient experts and people with life experience of health conditions. The Power of Empowerment series looks at many aspects of health and care Episode 1 Long term conditions Episode 2 Research and co-production Episode 3 Pregnancy, birth & beyond Episode 4 Moving from child to adult services Episode 5 Chronic Pain: Patient & Practitioner Episode 6 Reflections on empowerment

Workforce & Health Systems publications Evaluation and Enhancement of the Prognostic Ability of the Eighth Edition of TNM Staging in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: A Population-Based Study of 111,871 Cases Using Machine Learning Mortagy M, Cliff-Patel N, Askary R, Bologan AM, Abdelhameed A, Burns D, Ramage J, Akhras V Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), with global incidence on the rise. The TNM staging system guides treatment decisions and predicts patients' outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic ability of the 8th edition TNM (TNM-8) staging system to predict overall and melanoma-specific survival (OS and MSS) in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), and to explore the potential of machine learning (ML) methods to enhance melanoma prognostication. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljag018 January 2026 Workforce & Health Systems Icu Staffing and Patient Outcomes in English Hospital Trusts: A Longitudinal Observational Study Examining Icu Length of Stay, Re-Admission and Infection Rates Nwanosike E, Griffiths P, Dall'Ora C, Monks T, Pattison N, Yapa TD, Saville C Intensive care units (ICUs) are high-stakes environments where patient outcomes are heavily influenced by the quality and quantity of nursing care. The increased risk of mortality has been widely studied in terms of relationships with RN staffing, but other important outcomes, including length of stay (LoS), unit-acquired infections, and readmissions much less so. The risk of poor patient outcomes, including unit-acquired infections in ICUs, is high, with prevalence rates reaching up to 20 % in some hospitals. Also, patient readmissions to the ICU are another important outcome, with rates as high as 25 % in some hospitals. The importance of nurses being involved in management has been shown indirectly through studies of Magnet hospital accreditation. A recent systematic review of longitudinal studies including ICU settings reported mixed findings on the association between RN staffing levels and LoS, infections and readmissions. The reviewed studies have a serious risk of bias due to inadequate risk-adjustment. This means that any detected association between staffing levels and patient outcomes might be at least partly explained by high patient acuity and existing co-morbidities. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges, including surges in patient acuity, resource constraints, and rapid changes in care protocols, which may have altered these relationships beyond the pandemic period. Although prior research has examined RN-to-patient ratios, limited evidence exists regarding how RN team composition (e.g. RN skill-mix and presence of nurse managers) influences ICU outcomes such as the development of unit-acquired infections, increased LoS and readmissions to the ICU. Therefore, this study aims to fill these gaps by exploring longitudinal associations between RN staffing, skill mix, and patient outcomes in English ICUs over almost four years, encompassing the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. By providing insights into the impact of staffing on ICU outcomes prior to, during and after the pandemic, this study offers valuable evidence for optimising ICU staffing strategies in both crisis and non-crisis settings. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2025.104314 December 2025 Workforce & Health Systems Here’s something we prepared earlier: Development, use and reuse of a configurable, inter-disciplinary approach for tackling overcrowding in NHS hospitals Crowe S, Grieco L, Monks T, Keogh B, Penn M, Clancy M, Elkhodair S, Vindrola-Padros C, Fulop NJ, Utley M Overcrowding affects hospital emergency departments (ED) worldwide. Most OR studies addressing overcrowding develop bespoke models to explore potential improvements but ignore the organisational context in which they would be implemented, and few influence practice. There is interest in whether reusable models, for ED crowding and in healthcare generally, could have more impact. We developed a configurable approach for tackling ED overcrowding. A reusable queuing model for exploring drivers of ED performance was augmented by a qualitative approach for exploring the implementation context and a generic framework for assessing the likely compatibility of interventions with a given organisation. At the hospital where the approach was developed it directly informed strategy. We describe reuse of the approach at three hospitals. The primary contribution of this work is its novelty in considering, alongside quantitative modelling, evidence-based interventions to overcrowding and qualitative assessment of a hospital’s aptitude and capability to adopt different interventions. A secondary contribution is to further the debate on model reuse, particularly by introducing more complex, modelling-centred approaches that acknowledge how models must relate to tangible interventions with reasonable prospects of being adopted locally. https://doi.org/10.1080/01605682.2023.2199094 July 2023 Workforce & Health Systems Fatigue risk management in healthcare: A scoping literature review Fox S, Dall'Ora C, Young M Occupational fatigue among healthcare professionals is a complex, multifaceted issue associated with increased likelihood of medical error, compromised patient safety and negative impacts on staff mental and physical health. While safety-critical sectors such as aviation and rail have implemented formal systems to manage fatigue-related risks, it remains unclear whether similarly structured approaches exist or operate effectively within healthcare. This scoping literature review aimed to examine the current state of knowledge regarding fatigue risk management strategies and countermeasures in healthcare and explore the barriers and facilitators to their implementation. This review sought to highlight gaps and provide insights into advancing fatigue risk management practices within the healthcare context https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105282 November 2025 Workforce & Health Systems Nurse staffing configurations and sickness absence in English intensive care units: A longitudinal observational study Nwanosike E, Dall'Ora C, Griffiths P, Saville C, Monks T, Pattison N et al Staff wellbeing in intensive care units is essential for quality patient care, and nurse staffing configurations can impact nurse sickness absence. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed additional strain on nurses, potentially affecting sickness absence rates. The objective of this study is to examine the association between registered nurse staffing levels, skill mix, and staff sickness absence in intensive care units spanning prepandemic (01/19–02/20), early pandemic (03/20–02/21), later pandemic (03/21–02/22), and post-pandemic (03/22–12/22). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100451 November 2025 Workforce & Health Systems A flexible mathematical model for Home Health Care Problems Reula M, Parreño-Torres C, Lamas-Fernandez C, Martinez-Sykora A In the health and social care sectors it is common for some specialized teams to travel to patients homes to provide care. These teams are typically made up of by a number of staff members with varying skills, starting locations and working hours. Patients require different types of care, during specific time windows, and may have special requirements, such as needing two staff members, or multiple visits with some sort of temporal dependency between them. Since teams need to decide which staff member will visit each patient, as well as the routes they will take to do so, this kind of planning problem is known in the literature as the Home Health Care Routing and Scheduling Problem (HHCRSP). We introduce a new mixed integer linear programming formulation for the HHCRSP that extends previous models. Our formulation can readily be adapted to address more specific variants in the scientific literature, proving a larger number of optimal solutions and stronger lower bounds on benchmark instances using the same computational framework. We further propose an instance generator for producing scenarios that closely resemble those of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2025.05.055 November 2025 Workforce & Health Systems Pretrained language models for semantics-aware data harmonisation of observational clinical studies in the era of big data Dylag JJ, Zlatev Z, Boniface M In clinical research, there is a strong drive to leverage big data from population cohort studies and routine electronic healthcare records to design new interventions, improve health outcomes and increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery. However, realising these potential demands requires substantial efforts in harmonising source datasets and curating study data, which currently relies on costly, time-consuming and labour-intensive methods. We explore and assess the use of natural language processing (NLP) and unsupervised machine learning (ML) to address the challenges of big data semantic harmonisation and curation. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-025-03055-y October 2025 Workforce & Health Systems Mapping the evidence on occupational exoskeleton use for the workforce in healthcare, social care, and industry: A systematic scoping review Bhat S, Gavin J, Warner M, Myall M Musculoskeletal disorders remain a leading occupational health challenge in physically demanding sectors such as healthcare, social care, and industry. Exoskeletons – wearable devices designed to mitigate physical strain are increasingly explored as potential solutions; however, factors affecting their adoption in real-world settings remain underexplored. This novel scoping review systematically maps the existing evidence on the application of commercially available exoskeletons within real and simulated work environments, focusing on usage patterns, user experiences, and factors influencing implementation. https://doi.org/10.1017/wtc.2025.10033 November 2025 Workforce & Health Systems Perceived usefulness and effectiveness of game-based learning when revising and preparing for written exams in nursing education - a feasibility study Tavares N, Jarrett N Studying for final exams is often regarded as difficult for nursing students, therefore, activities using game-based learning methods may increase student satisfaction. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the feasibility of a game-based learning activity on nursing students' learning and revision processes. A one-group pre and post-questionnaire design was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a game-based learning activity. All nursing students found the game-based learning activity valuable when preparing for written exams. The learning activity increased the levels of knowledge retention and the final grades. Although two students found the activity somewhat distracting, most students believed that game-based learning should be embedded into the nursing curriculum. The game-based learning activity was well-accepted when revising for written exams in nursing. However, research at a larger scale is required to confirm the effectiveness of the activity on students' knowledge, grades and long-term retention. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0001043 October 2025 Workforce & Health Systems A flexible mathematical model for Home Health Care Problems Reula M, Parreno-Torres C, Lamas-Fernandez C, Martinez-Sykora A In the health and social care sectors it is common for some specialized teams to travel to patients homes to provide care. These teams are typically made up of by a number of staff members with varying skills, starting locations and working hours. Patients require different types of care, during specific time windows, and may have special requirements, such as needing two staff members, or multiple visits with some sort of temporal dependency between them. Since teams need to decide which staff member will visit each patient, as well as the routes they will take to do so, this kind of planning problem is known in the literature as the Home Health Care Routing and Scheduling Problem (HHCRSP). We introduce a new mixed integer linear programming formulation for the HHCRSP that extends previous models. Our formulation can readily be adapted to address more specific variants in the scientific literature, proving a larger number of optimal solutions and stronger lower bounds on benchmark instances using the same computational framework. We further propose an instance generator for producing scenarios that closely resemble those of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2025.05.055 September 2025 Workforce & Health Systems "I don't think there's necessarily a one size fits all" negotiating competing priorities in nurse shift scheduling: a qualitative study Barker HR, Griffiths P, Dall'Ora C The nursing workforce globally faces significant challenges, including burnout, stress, and absenteeism, exacerbated by unsafe staffing levels and suboptimal working conditions. In England, many nursing staff express intentions to leave their roles, driven by work-life imbalance. This study explores how the preferences and constraints of nursing staff, nurse managers, and hospital directors interact to influence shift scheduling decisions within the NHS, aiming to identify strategies that reconcile individual wellbeing with organisational imperatives. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03705-6 August 2025 Workforce & Health Systems Estimating Nurse Workload Using a Predictive Model From Routine Hospital Data: Algorithm Development and Validation. Meredith P, Saville C, Dall'Ora C, Weeks T, Wierzbicki S, Griffiths P Managing nurse staffing is complex due to fluctuating demand based on ward occupancy, patient acuity, and dependency. Monitoring staffing adequacy in real time has the potential to inform safe and efficient deployment of staff. Patient classification systems (PCSs) are being used for per shift workload measurement, but they add a frequent administrative task for ward nursing staff. https://doi.org/10.2196/71666 July 2025 Workforce & Health Systems

Guidance for publications As an NIHR researcher you are required to acknowledge NIHR ARC Wessex and inform ARC Wessex when you have submitted a publication. Notification should be sent to arcwessex@soton.ac.uk . When acknowledging the NIHR, please use the relevant statement below ARC Wessex funded projects This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research ARC Wessex. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health and Care Research or the Department of Health and Social Care. ARC Wessex adopted projects This study is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research ARC Wessex. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health and Care Research or the Department of Health and Social Care. Academic Career Development Awards (Name) received(s) support from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration ARC Wessex and funded through an {insert name of award e.g. NIHR ARC Wessex Internship/PhD fellowship, Post Doctoral Fellowship). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, NHS or Department of Health and Social Care. For individuals listed as co-funded ARC investigators and where the research output is linked to the ARC Wessex portfolio please use the following This study is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research ARC Wessex. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health and Care Research or the Department of Health and Social Care. Download the Funded by NIHR logo Download

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Senior Research Assistant < Back Gabrielle Palermo Senior Research Assistant Ageing and Dementia Gabrielle Palermo is a Senior Research Assistant at the NIHR ARC Wessex Mental Health Hub, University of Southampton. She supports quantitative research on alcohol use disorder in older adults and contributes to other Hub projects involving complex routine datasets, including the OLA study. With over 20 years of experience in applied statistics, Gabrielle specialises in quantitative methods for epidemiological, socioeconomic, and public health research, particularly in the analysis of survey and administrative data. Her expertise includes multilevel modelling, complex survey design for cross-sectional and longitudinal data, data cleaning and linkage, and the treatment of missing data. She holds an MSc in Population Studies and a BSc in Statistics from ENCE–IBGE (Brazil). Her doctoral research focuses on statistical methodologies for unbalanced longitudinal data in sample-based educational panel studies, with emphasis on school effectiveness and pupil mobility. Since 2022, she has worked across multiple departments within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton, contributing to research in epidemiology and clinical trials. Previous Next

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About NIHR The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by: Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care; Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services; Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research; Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges; Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system; Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries. NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.

f5c7ef05-9a58-48a5-9c06-02ebd55d89cd COMPLETED: Medicines optimisation Principal Investigator: Dr Simon Fraser Team members: Dr Simon Fraser (Associate Professor of Public Health. School of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital), Professor Chris Edwards (Professor of Rheumatology, Southampton and Associate Director of the NIHR Clinical Research Facility) Dr Chris Holroyd (Consultant Rheumatologist, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust), Dr Kinda Ibrahim (Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust), Dr Ravina Barrett (Pharmacist, University of Portsmouth), Dr Clare Howard (Chief Pharmacist, Medicines Optimisation, Wessex AHSN), Dr Mary O’Brien (NHS England, NHS Rightcare), Dr David Culliford (Senior Medical Statistician, Health Sciences, University of Southampton), Professor Paul Roderick (Professor of Public Health, Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton), Professor James Batchelor (Director Clinical Informatics Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton), Dr Matthew Stammers (Senior Endoscopy Fellow, University Hospital Southampton and Clinical Informatics Research Fellow at Clinical Informatics Research Unit) Start: 1 October 2019 Ends: 30 September 2024 Project Partners: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England (NHS Rightcare), University of Portsmouth, University of Southampton, Academic Health Sciences Network (AHSN) Wessex. Lay summary Painful conditions associated with age (such as arthritis) are common in the UK and safe pain relief options for older people are limited. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are widely used – both bought from the pharmacy and prescribed by doctors, but they have significant risks, such as bleeding from the stomach and kidney damage. Older people and those with certain long-term medical conditions are at higher risk of experiencing bad effects from these drugs. Another issue concerns people who are taking one of a group of medications call ‘disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs’ (DMARDs). These drugs are often used for rheumatoid arthritis and work by slowing its progression, reducing the likelihood of severe joint damage and other related health problems. They are also used for inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease. Methotrexate is one of the most commonly used DMARD in arthritis and azathioprine is one of the most commonly used in inflammatory bowel disease. Anti-TNF drugs are an important group of so called ‘biological agents’ – another type of DMARD. DMARDs are powerful drugs that require regular blood tests to check for adverse effects, such as liver problems, and guidelines advise how often these tests should be done. However, for most people, these blood tests are almost never abnormal, and could potentially be safely done less frequently. In addition, some people with inflammatory arthritis have an excellent response to DMARDs. Stopping DMARDs can lead to flare ups of disease, but the amount of therapy used may be tapered successfully to reduce dose-dependent adverse events and costs. This project involved two studies The first study showed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are still sometimes prescribed for high-risk patients, such as older adults and those with chronic kidney disease. NSAIDs can cause acute kidney injury (AKI), leading to serious complications. This study developed a risk tool for practices to identify those who should not be prescribed NSAIDs. The second explored the frequency of blood testing for patients on Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate, commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis. Guidelines recommend 3-monthly blood tests due to potential liver issues. The research found that many tests were seldom abnormal, suggesting that low-risk patients might safely have less frequent tests if further research is done on the safety of risk-stratifying people. What did we learn? In the two different parts of the project we found that: About half of people taking the ‘disease modifying’ drugs (‘ DMARDs ’) methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis or azathioprine for inflammatory bowel disease experienced no blood test abnormality over two years despite having to have blood tests every three months. Reducing testing frequency may therefore be safe for younger people and those without other long-term conditions. Among people taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (‘ NSAIDs ’ like ibuprofen) the risk of kidney damage was highest among older people with combinations of long-term conditions including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease and heart failure, and high blood pressure. These people should avoid taking NSAIDs and we provided a way for GPs to identify them in their databases. What difference will this new knowledge make? DMARDs: Further investigation is needed on the safety and acceptability of reduced blood testing frequency testing for some people taking DMARDs but this could potentially result in reduced unnecessary patient anxiety and burden, fewer referrals to hospital and reduce resource use for the NHS. If testing could be reduced this would mean reduced treatment burden for patients and reduced cost and admin work for the NHS NSAIDs: GP practices can be provided with a search tool that helps identify those at highest risk of kidney damage from NSAIDs. Using this information they can review and stop NSAIDs to reduce the risk. If prescribing was stopped for some people at risk, this would reduce risk of acute kidney injury which can have lasting consequences or even be fatal What was the impact? Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) As part of the medicines optimisation project we explored the risks of acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. There was a news article here about it: https://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/post/southampton-led-study-shows-need-for-painkiller-caution-to-prevent-kidney-damage and a publication here: https://bjgpopen.org/content/6/1/BJGPO.2021.0208 We developed a risk score that can help GP practices identify those patients at highest risk of NSAID-associated kidney injury. We have run this risk tool in the Dorset Intelligence and Insight Service (a database covering over 70 Dorset GP practices - more than 800,000 people) and along with colleagues from the AHSN we are running a masterclass with many of the GP practices involved to present the findings and to promote best practice in NSAID prescribing. The aim is to reduce NSAID prescribing in those at high risk of adverse outcomes like AKI. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are prevalent inflammatory conditions, affecting 0.8% and 0.7% of the population, respectively. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate for RA and azathioprine for IBD, are commonly used to control disease activity. These drugs require regular safety blood-test monitoring for liver function abnormalities, kidney function, and bone marrow toxicity. Monitoring is frequent at initiation and less frequent once a maintenance dose is established. In the UK, initiation usually occurs in secondary care, with ongoing monitoring in primary care as recommended by NICE. Regular blood-test monitoring has been linked with anxiety and depression for some patients, incurs substantial costs for healthcare providers, and increases the workload for clinicians and laboratory staff. Despite guidelines, the optimal monitoring frequency has not been established, and the extent to which patients experience prolonged periods with no abnormal tests is unclear. This study aimed to assess the extent of persistently normal blood-test results among people with RA and IBD, and to describe the frequency of blood testing to indicate health-service and patient workload. Targeted monitoring of higher-risk individuals and reduced monitoring for lower-risk patients may improve efficiency and reduce patient workload. Our large, 2-year retrospective cohort study (over 700,000 people) assessed persistently normal blood tests among people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking methotrexate and those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) taking azathioprine. Approximately half of the patients experienced no blood-test abnormalities using NICE-recommended tests. In the RA/methotrexate cohort, abnormalities were more common in older people with reduced renal function. For the IBD/azathioprine cohort, abnormalities were less common and mainly involved reduced renal function in older people with comorbidities. The absolute risk of persistently normal blood tests was lowest among older people and those with comorbidities. Since the study, a piece of work led by Nottingham cited our work ( https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-074678 ) and created a model to risk stratify patients taking methotrexate. This is quite likely to change clinical practice when NICE reviews its guidance on DMARDs in due course. This work was supported by representatives of the ‘Getting It Right First Time’ programme, who also linked this issue to sustainability: ‘Saving the planet with reduced routine DMARD blood monitoring frequency BMJ 2023; 382 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1645’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSriKPqdbvA&t=6s

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PPI/E Strategy 2021-2024 full report Below you will find the full report of the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPI/E) Strategy 2021-2024. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex Authored by Caroline Barker (Lead for PPI/E). Supported by our Public Champions and Katherine Baker (PPI Officer). Document overview: Background information Our vision Our aims Programme of activities Resources, partners and collaborators Reporting and monitoring The purpose of this strategy Patients and the public are at the heart of our vision to improve the health and well-being of people across Wessex . We need and value the voices of the communities our research serves. The knowledge, experiences and support of patients and the public are essential to ensure that our research goals and solutions are relevant, prevent waste, and bring the greatest possible benefits to society. This document outlines our strategy for Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (termed PPI/E) in the work of ARC Wessex . Definitions We recognise there are different definitions to describe involvement and engagement activities within health and social care. For the purposes of this document we will adopt the following definitions: Patient and public involvement: research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them. (NIHR INVOLVE 2017). Engagement: where information and knowledge about research is provided and shared. PPI/E: an abbreviation/acronym. Used to describe patient and public involvement or engagement work and projects, or activities that connect or encompass both. Public: in this strategy we use the term ‘public’ to describe people affected by our research who do not have a professional role in health and social care services. This may include patients, service users, survivors, carers, family members or members of the general population. We also use the acronym WISeRD, which stands for Wessex Inclusion in Service Research and Design Group. This is our strategic PPI/E group. It is composed of PPI Champions (public), the PPI/E team and staff links for each research theme. As you read this document, you may come across other terms, abbreviations and acronyms that are unfamiliar to you. We have provided brief descriptions in the footnotes. There is also a glossary of terms at the end of the document. Context and opportunities ARC Wessex launched in October 2019. As part of our application to become an ARC, we had to develop an outline PPI/E strategy. CLAHRC Wessex (preceded ARC Wessex) shared our commitment to PPI/E and the work done by the CLAHRC laid good foundations for ARC Wessex to build on and progress. We are proud of the work we have done to embed PPI/E in our projects and programmes over the first 18 months. This strategy, developed in wide consultation with our partners and public communities, builds on the outline PPI/E strategy from our application. It covers activities from April 2021-Oct 2024. Our locality, Wessex, has strengths in involvement and engagement. We have the Wessex Public Involvement Network (PIN) that ARC Wessex plays a leading role in. This is a network of staff and public working with NIHR and committed to improving public involvement in research. We do this by sharing our knowledge, supporting and developing each other. We also work together on projects that would not be possible if we did not share the workload between us. These include developing PPI/E training and trialling approaches to improve diversity and inclusion in PPI/E. Our partners in NHS providers , charities and higher education institutions (e.g. Universities) have their own expertise and strengths. We are willing and committed to working together on areas of shared priority. Our Vision We aim to deliver high quality public involvement and engagement for health and social care. Our activities will meet the values and principles of good public involvement as outlined in the UK Standards for Public Involvement . Our activities will occur across, and add value to, each aspect of Wessex ARC: At project-specific level (e.g. an ARC-funded or ARC-supported research project). Across each of our four research themes and the wider ARC programme. With our partners and collaborators organisations. Our overarching aims Aligned to the UK Standards for Public Involvement, are aims are to: Listen to voices relevant to our research priorities that reflect the diversity of our local population – ensuring the underserved have a voice (UK Standard Inclusive Opportunities). Build a culture that respects different perspectives, values contributions and supports mutually respectful and productive relationships (UK Standard Working Together). Provide health research communities of Wessex (including public) adequate PPI/E training, support and learning opportunities at the right time for their project/programme and/or their own development needs (UK Standard Support and Learning). Involve the public at strategic and operational levels, ensuring best practice and supporting research transparency (UK Standard Governance). Use innovative approaches and good communication to expand the reach of our activities, maximising impact by stimulating knowledge-of, and interest-in, our research (UK Standard Communications). Capture, monitor and share learnings to feedback to those involved, avoid duplication, contribute to the evidence base and build our academic PPI/E (UK Standard Impact). We will build on our local strengths and focus on areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Aim 1: Listen to voices relevant to our research priorities that reflect the diversity of our local population – ensuring the underserved have a voice (UK Standard Inclusive Opportunities ). Aim 2: Build a culture that respects different perspectives, values contributions and supports mutually respectful and productive relationships (UK Standard Working Together ) Aim 3: Provide health research communities of Wessex (including public) adequate PPI/E training, support and learning opportunities at the right time for their project/programme and/or their own development needs (UK Standard Support and Learning ). Aim 4: Involve the public at strategic and operational levels, ensuring best practice and supporting research transparency (UK Standard Governance ). Aim 5: Use innovative approaches and good communication to expand the reach of our activities, maximising impact by stimulating knowledge-of, and interest-in, our research (UK Standard Communications ). Aim 6: Capture, monitor and share learnings to feedback to those involved, avoid duplication, contribute to the evidence base and build our academic PPI/E (UK Standard Impact ). Resources Our PPI/E team, in partnership with our research community (including public and researchers), will deliver the programme. A Lead for PPI/E will oversee delivery. A Communications & Partnerships Manager, Administrative Officer and a PPI Officer support them. A dedicated PPI/E budget will support: expense and time reimbursement for public contributing to our work; training costs required to support public in their role; consumable and facilities costs relating to PPI/E events, including training events; development and testing of new initiatives. This is in addition to PPI/E budgets set out within each research project, and academic career development awards. Partners and collaborators We will work closely with involvement, engagement and communications teams in our partner charities, health and care providers and higher education institutions. This will enable us to maximise opportunities, minimise duplication and create economies-of-scale. Our public engagement activities wil l benefit from University of Southampton’s experienced Public Engagement in Research Unit, Public Policy Unit (connects with policy advisors and central government) and LifeLab (working with young people to engage them with research). Consolidated funding for our Lead for PPI/E facilitates strong cross-organisational working. This Lead person manages a PPI/E team working across University Hospital Southampton, including the Wessex PIN and other NIHR infrastructure (Southampton BRC and CRF ). Reporting and monitoring An annual plan is written each year that covers progress to date and plans for the next year (see footnote for full detail ). The plan is developed by the Lead, with input from WISeRD, and approved by the ARC Director. Progress against our milestones are reported to: WISeRD at our meetings (every two months). The Executive Leadership Group (every two months). Rolling theme updates (including PPI/E) are a standing item. The Lead for PPI/E provides a formal update annually and given additional time on the agenda to discuss items as required. The ARC Director at meetings with the PPI/E team (twice a year). The ARC Partnership Board (twice a year) as part of the progress reports submitted to board members. CCF vi a the formal annual reporting structures (once a year). [17] [18] [19] [20] [1] Wessex includes Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and South Wiltshire. [2] ARC stands for Applied Research Collaboration. They support applied health and care research that responds to, and meets, the needs of local populations and local health and care systems. [3] INVOLVE was a national coordinating centre for public involvement in health and care (until March 2020). A new Centre for Engagement and Dissemination aims to build on the work of INVOLVE. [4] Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care [5] National Institute for Health Research [6] Any organisation that provides NHS services [7] The standards are a framework for what good public involvement in research looks like. [8] ARC Wessex has four research themes: Ageing & Dementia; Long Term Conditions; Healthy Communities and Workforce and Health Systems. Found out more on our website. [9] Underserved is the term we have chosen to use to describe people who are less well included in research. It is important to recognise that underserved groups are context-specific. There is no single, simple definition to describe all underserved groups. [10] The Microsoft Accessibility Checker is a free tool available in Office 365. It finds most accessibility issues and explains why each might be a potential problem for someone with a disability. It also offers suggestions on how to resolve each issue. [11] The equality impact assessment is a systematic and evidence-based tool, which enables us to consider the likely impact of work on different groups of people. [12] Operational leadership group. [13] This project aims to test how feasible and acceptable a childhood obesity prediction tool is. [14] The Academic Career Development Group in ARC Wessex is focused on building capacity and capability within the health and care system. [15] The ARC Partnership Board is a decision-making body for ARC Wessex. [16] A theory of change is a description of why a particular way of working will be effective, showing how change happens in the short, medium and long term to achieve its intended impact. Logic models are a way to graphically represent this theory. [17] Biomedical Research Centre [18] Clinical Research Facility [19] PPI/E annual plan covers: progress against last year’s objectives and the wider strategy; objectives, plans and milestones (with timescales) for the next year; plans for engaging our stakeholders; plans for dissemination and monitoring impact; cross ARC collaborations; plans for research and capacity building; leadership and management; finances [20] CCF = NIHR Clinical Commissioning Facility. They manage and administer the ARC funding scheme [ii] Public involvement activities describe activities where research is carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them. [iii] Engagement activities describe activities where information and knowledge about research is provided to and shared with the public. [iv] Underserved is the term we have chosen to use to describe people who are less well included in research. It is important to recognise that underserved groups are context-specific. There is no single, simple definition to describe all underserved groups. Want to know more? You can read our full strategy Have questions or comments? Email PublicInvolvement@uhs.nhs.uk

Project Outputs Project Outputs This domain helps you consider the deliverables or what is to be produced as a result of your project. These are the project outputs . Outputs can be singular or multiple and include any of the following: policy guideline(s), innovation, intervention, website or a tool. No FAQs yet This category doesn't have any FAQs at the moment. Check back later or explore other categories. What should I consider for my project? Adoption and Spread Project Outputs Buy-in and Engagement Fit with Health and Social Care Systems Alignment with Health and Social Care Priorities Outcomes and Impact Project Outputs Buy-in and Engagement Fit with Health and Social Care Systems Alignment with Health and Social Care Priorities Outcomes and Impact Adoption and Spread Checklist, webinar and resources Quick links: Case study “ As we had early discussions t o identify our project outputs within our team, we were able to plan resources required to support this. For example, we knew that one of our key outputs would be a website to be made freely available to all. However, as we engaged with our wider networks of stakeholders across d ifferent care homes, we realised that some also expressed interest in having a printed training resource which they could share with colleagues when hosting in-person workshops . This presented a challenge initially as we had not costed for the development of these printed materials. However, as we were still at an early stage of the project, we were able to apply for a small grant which helped accommodate these costs. Stakeholder involvement was invaluable to ensuring that our project outputs matched their needs . We will take this learning forward in future projects and consult with a range of stakeholders initially. This will help to support our project outputs to be available and accessible in formats which best fit the needs of those using them.” Person-centred care training resource for care homes project (PCCP) Take away tips Early engagement with stakeholders about what project outputs are helpful for them can enhance their longer-term value and utility Early engagement also ensures that resources can be prioritised and financially supported

National Festival of Applied Dementia Research During Dementia Action week | 19 - 25 May 2025 we are celebrating the work of applied dementia researchers from across England. Find and event near you. Browse our DEMFEST Events Download all the events in this printable brochure > Dementia Research Festival events from around England Filter by Region Select Region Join in the conversation online - just look out for the #DEMFEST tag for pictures and news on our events SUPPORT THAT MATTERS: PREVIEW a Dementia Art & Research Exhibition May 8, 2025 5.30-7.30pm (opening night) Skyway Gallery, 2 Pond Road, Shoreham-by-sea BN43 5WU Exhibition: 9 – 15 May 2025 10am – 4pm - Wheelchair accessible Do you want to help improve care and support for people with memory problems and dementia – but don’t know where to start? May 17, 2025 1.00pm-2.00pm New Art Exchange, 39 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 6BE Also runs Tuesday 20th May 1.00pm-2.00pm - Just drop in Dementia Community Research Network (DCRN) Public Conference May 19, 2025 2.00pm-4.30pm Stanstead Lodge 260 Stanstead Road SE23 1DD https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dementia-community-research-conference-tickets-1255488202009 Dementia Care Research: What’s that all about then? May 19, 2025 Runs from 19-25 May Online Find out more: https://arc-swp.nihr.ac.uk/news/ Day 1 of our Mental Stimulation & Social Engagement event (Afternoon Tea) May 19, 2025 2.00-4.30pm Fulham Pier at Fulham Football Stadium, Stevenage Road, London SW6 6HH p.nair@imperial.ac.uk Day 2 of our Mental Stimulation & Social Engagement event (Virtual Reality) May 20, 2025 10:30am to 1:00pm Danehust Centre, Brentford TW8 8HX p.nair@imperial.ac.uk SUPPORT THAT MATTERS: a Dementia Art & Research Exhibition May 20, 2025 5.00pm-8.00pm (opening night) Creative Space Art Gallery, 1 Red Lion Lane, Whitstable CT5 1FG Runs 21 – 26 May 2025 10.00am - 6.00pm Drop in, no booking needed Dementia Action Week – Dementia Research and Me May 20, 2025 12.00-4.00pm The Royal Hotel, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1JP Contact: katie.breheny@bristol.ac.uk Link: https://arc-w.nihr.ac.uk/events/dementia-action-week-dementia-research-and-me/ What is happening in dementia research in the West Midlands? May 20, 2025 12.45pm-4.00pm Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre, Wade Centre, Hartshill Road. ST4 7NY Link: https://www.arc-wm.nihr.ac.uk/news-events/ Day 3 of our Physical Activity & Social Engagement event (Yoga) May 21, 2025 10:30- 1:00pm London Care, 42 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5PH p.nair@imperial.ac.uk Workshop | How do we foster dementia-friendly communities? May 21, 2025 10:00-12:00pm Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ Contact: g.windle@herts.ac.uk for venue details. Dementia research in the North East – how can it help me? May 21, 2025 11.30am-1.00pm Newcastle United Foundation, Diana Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 68Q To book this event contact marie.poole@newcastle.ac.uk Chai and Chat: South Asian Dementia Cafe May 22, 2025 1pm-3pm Mary Sunley House, Banstead Street West, Leeds, LS8 5RU Contact: A.Akhtar46@bradford.ac.uk Dementia Knowledge Exchange Event in the South Asian Community May 22, 2025 12.00-1.00pm TBC Manchester Liverpool Contact: sarah.smith-10@manchester.ac.uk Seeing Dementia Differently: A Journey Through Research & Lived Experience May 22, 2025 2.00pm-5.00pm St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre, 2 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF Contact on the day: Jess Wright (jess.wright@ucl.ac.uk) Dementia Tea Dance: Connecting Communities, Sharing Knowledge May 22, 2025 1.00pm-3.00pm The Old School House (TOSH) Gladstone Mews, Bournemouth. BH7 6BG Call Pippa 07780 004101 Day 4 of our Healthy Diet event May 22, 2025 10:30am to 1:00pm Loveday Kensington, 2 Kensington Square, London W8 5EP p.nair@imperial.ac.uk Let’s Talk: 3D May 23, 2025 10-12pm Cloth Hall Court, Quebec Street Leeds LS1 2HA http://s.raman@leeds.ac.uk Life in Embrace – Navigating the realities of dementia in the UK and India May 23, 2025 2.00pm - 4.00pm Reading Biscuit Factory Unit 1A, Queen’s Walk (Corner of Oxford Road), Reading RG1 7QE https://www.readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk/ Day 5 of our Community Health Checks May 23, 2025 1:00- 4:00pm Kensington Town Hall, Hornton St, London W8 7NX p.nair@imperial.ac.uk SUPPORT THAT MATTERS +: a VIRTUAL Dementia Art & Research Exhibition May 23, 2025 12.00-1.00pm Online http://Register: https://tinyurl.com/supportthatmatters Brain Health & Dementia Prevention in the Black African Community May 25, 2025 5pm-8pm Blackburn Hall, Commercial Street Rothwell, Leeds. LS26 0AW Contact: e.s.nwofe@bradford.ac.uk