Development of a Patient and Carer Advisory Board to Co‐Design Health Services Research for the Quality of Care of People With Dementia

INTRODUCTION: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is becoming increasingly common in research and is now a requirement by many funding bodies. In this paper, we describe a PPI Board that was formed to bring lived experience expertise to the research conception, development and implementation of the evaluating quality care (eQC) project, which focussed on improving the care of older people and people living with dementia in acute care hospitals. METHODS: We discuss how the board was initially conceived and developed, including the process to recruit an appropriately skilled and experienced Chair and members, and operational aspects of the co-design focused Board. RESULTS: The Board's membership, conduct of meetings and outcomes are described. The Board's eight members provided advice and input on research ideas and protocols. They co-authored 16 publications and provided advice and input on a further 12 publications for three PhD students linked with the project. DISCUSSION: Important aspects of PPI, including successes and challenges of setting up a PPI Board are discussed as well as recommendations for other groups who are interested in developing a PPI Board as co-design partners in research. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The eQC public and patient involvement board comprises people living with dementia and carers of people living with dementia. This article was conceived of and jointly planned with the eQC PPI Board and eQC research team. The research team members wrote the first draft (D.B. and P.P.), and the Board edited the manuscript. All Board members are listed as authors.