Patient and public involvement is important to the work of the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC). We work with people and communities to ensure that the research priorities and innovations we support are developed in collaboration with people with lived experience of a particular service or health condition. We work with patients, people who access services, carers, charities, community groups and others to bring diverse perspectives into our work.

I am hoping that this strategy will place patients’ voice at the heart of the AAC’s work and that people will be able to see that patients’ voices have influenced and shaped this work. Joanne Beecroft, Lived Experience Partner, Asthma Biologics, Rapid Uptake Programme

Working with our patient partners and stakeholders, we have developed The patient and public involvement strategy 2021-2026. This strategy sets out six aims:

1. Ensure that a diverse range of patients and the public, especially people with lived experience, are involved in influencing the direction and delivery of our work programmes.
2. Proactively address equality and inclusion in our work.
3. Work collaboratively across the AAC partnership and wider system partners to embed a culture of patient involvement across AAC programmes.
4. Support patients and public partners to have a meaningful and positive experience while working with us.
5. Understand our impact and outcomes.
6. Communicate our impact.

Recent examples of our work include:

• Involving patient partners in the governance and direction-setting of our work programmes.
• User testing and accessibility audits with patient partners of the Innovation Service that is currently being developed.
• Co-designing patient -facing information about new innovative treatments.
• Working with patient partners to co-deliver training and education webinars for health system partners.

To find out more about our action plan please email england.aacppi@nhs.net

The following links provide further information about our approach to involving people and communities in shaping healthcare:

• Our work aims to be in line with the guiding principles set out in the UK standards for public involvement in research and NHS England guidance on patient and public participation in commissioning health and care.
• We plan our work to support the NHS England approach to reducing health inequalities.
• As the AAC is hosted by NHS England, we adhere to the following policies: Patient and public voice partners policy and Patient and public voice partners – reimbursing expenses and involvement payments.
• AAC and NHS England involvement opportunities are advertised on our involvement hub and you can find out about getting involved in research on the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) website.
• Further information about involving people and communities can be found on the get involved section of our website and in the NIHR’s resources for involvement.