Mersey Care's 'Count Me In' workshop develops plans to widen participation in research

Service users and staff from Mersey Care have joined together at the start of a campaign called 'Count Me In' to help develop plans to widen participation in research.

The workshop focussed on the design of resources and writing of messages to explain the purpose of 'Count Me In' and how it works when it is rolled out later this year. It was the second event in an ongoing co-production project.

Mersey Care Research Effectiveness Lead, Oladayo Bifarin, said: “We want all patients and service users and carers to have the chance to take part in research.

“Count Me In means that everyone eligible will be contacted if there is something that might be suitable, up to five years after being a service user. Anyone who does not want to be contacted about research opportunities, can opt out.”

The campaign aims to give all patients, service users and carers the chance to know about research activities, by contacting them directly unless they tell us not to do so.

More workshops and consultation events are taking place over the coming months to spread awareness about 'Count Me In.'

IT and information governance specialists are already building a secure database, which will collate patient information and allow researchers to search for potential participants in research. Everyone identified will be contacted with information and asked if they would like to take part.