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Primary Care Network’s PPI group set to celebrate achievements with 10th anniversary gathering
The NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Primary Care Network is celebrating its 10th anniversary of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) activities with a special gathering
The Network launched its PPI group in early 2016, and it has continued to gather regularly, welcoming patients, carers and members of the public from across Scotland to give their opinions about research.
The group meets to advise health researchers and the Network itself on all aspects of the research process and firmly believes that PPI helps to “keep health research activity focused on what will really benefit patients, carers and the public using frontline services”.
An event to celebrate the group’s decade of achievements is now planned for Friday 24 April, taking place at the University of Glasgow’s Clarice Pears Building, part of the School of Health & Wellbeing.
Invited to be part of the event will be all PPI group members, past and present, along with their family and friends; families of members who have sadly passed away; and Primary Care Network staff.
NRS Primary Care Network Coordinator/PPI Lead, Dr Tracy Ibbotson said: “The event is very much intended to recognise our fantastic, collective achievements while thanking all who have contributed to them — and after 10 years, there’s been a great deal of progress to celebrate.
“As a group of like-minded individuals coming together to make a real difference through the sharing of experiences, ideas, and diverse points of view, there is much to be extremely proud of and to commemorate on 24 April.
“Since 2016, we’ve supported reviews of at least 60 projects and held over 40 PPI meetings. In looking back, I’ve been genuinely amazed by the milestones and impact which the group has had.
“While noting those achievements in various ways, we also intend to create a space for all to reminisce and share their own experiences with the use of quotes and photos from the group and researchers.”
Tracy will be giving a short presentation on the day, reflecting on those milestones and what has been collaboratively achieved.
The event will further include short presentations from PPI members and researchers about outcomes of studies and reflections on working with the group.
There will also be time to network, as well as:
- A short video of the group in action
- A memorial corner to celebrate the contributions of members who have passed away
- A memory wall, where people can share thoughts about PPI and what the group has meant to them
The group — first set up to listen to patient voices in general practice research — plays a key role in providing a strong partnership between interested patients, members of the public, and researchers, offering vital insights and lived experiences which contribute to better studies.
Researchers working in primary care aim to find out ways to prevent or better manage illness or to test new treatments.
Involving patients and the public in research can also strengthen any research funding application.
PPI for primary care research is different from most other charities and advocacy organisations in that it covers all clinical conditions rather than specific conditions.
The group was set up to listen to patient voices in general practice research and Tracy says that “members have played an active and enthusiastic role in its development” by planning and participating in seminars with researchers and patients; collaborating with university colleagues in presenting a workshop for stakeholders; and conducting four PPI group meetings each year.
Over the last decade, some members of the group have been PPI co-applicants on funded research to enhance the voice of underrepresented people, while two members joined the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) Public Engagement Group.
The group has also further participated in workshops to promote the involvement of people in research.
‘Conversations about Covid’ — a public engagement event held in September 2022 as part of the University of Glasgow ARCadia ‘Festival of Ideas’ — celebrated the opening of the Advanced Research Centre in Glasgow. It saw members of the PPI group take part to enable the sharing of thoughts on how we involve people in research.
One group member participated in the Life History Project (LHP) for first year medical students to learn about patient experiences. The group’s new buddy system provides PPI support for PhD students from General Practice and Primary Care (GPPC).
In October 2023, the West of Scotland Research Ethics Committee (REC) hosted a training day at Strathclyde University. Dr Ibbotson, alongside group member Zahada Zafar, co-presented an insightful session on PPI, sharing group experiences and best practices with a wider audience.
In March last year, the group took part in a national workshop at the NRS and CSO-hosted PPI Event in Stirling. This session focused on improving access to clinical trials. Group members Maxine Anderson and Goutam Das spoke powerfully about their motivations for joining clinical trials and shared their personal experiences of participation.
If you are a member of the public and want to find out more about becoming involved or a researcher who wants to find out more about presenting your ideas to the group, please email the Network.
Publication date: 26th March 2026
