Occupational Therapy News OTNews March 2020 | Page 50

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
Work begins on developing a
single, new NIHR centre to lead
public involvement and research
dissemination
now underway.
This new centre will look to improve research relevance for all by
combining the strengths of current NIHR approaches with research
dissemination and to patient and public involvement, engagement
and participation (PPIE).
It will integrate this with work to enable health and care
professionals, researchers, policy makers and the public make
better use of the broad range of research evidence that the NIHR
generates.
Dr Louise Wood, Director of Science, Research and Evidence
at DHSC, said: ‘We believe this is an innovative step forward which
will keep NIHR at the forefront of national and international efforts to
put the needs of patients and the public first in health, social care
and public health research.
‘We are excited about the opportunity to unify this with our
research dissemination activities, getting research evidence into
the hands of frontline health and care staff, commissioners, policy
makers, patients and the public.
‘Our commitment to public involvement is unwavering, and
we are proud of our track record thus far. The new centre will be
expected to embrace INVOLVE’s values and principles and will
work to deliver the recommendations in Going the extra mile,
including embedding the UK Standards for Public Involvement
across our infrastructure and funding programmes.
‘Our public contributors continue to challenge us to improve
what we do. The new centre will put us in a better position to
build new partnerships and to work differently, including using co-
production and co-design.’
Discussions are in progress with the current providers to ensure
continuity. The work of INVOLVE and the NIHR Dissemination
Centre will continue unchanged through to March 2020.
For further details visit: www.nihr.ac.uk/news/work-begins-
on-developing-a-single-new-nihr-centre-that-will-lead-public-
involvement-and-research-dissemination-for-nihr-from-
april-2020/21924.
50 OTnews March 2020
Increasingly people
need specific
measurements
when choosing a
car for their needs.
RiDC (the Research
Institute for Disabled
Consumers), a
research charity that works with disabled and older consumers
to improve access and inclusion, has launched a newly-revised
online car search to help.
The vehicle database will be of interest to occupational
therapists and other people advising on car access and mobility.
Older drivers who find bending more difficult, for example, are
looking for a car with higher seats. Carers often want a vehicle
Last May, the
Department of
Health and Social
Care (DHSC)
announced that
it would open a
new, single centre
to develop and
enhance the ways
that patients, carers
and the public can partner with the National Institute for Health
Research (NIHR) to advance research.
Establishment of the new centre, which will open in April 2020, is
RiDC revises data for occupational
therapists to help clients choose the
right car
that has a large, flat boot to make loading a light mobility scooter
or wheelchair in and out easier, while some drivers are looking for
small cars with big boots.
With data on over 1,700 vehicles, the car search helps disabled
and older people to shortlist suitable vehicles using specific
accessibility measurements. Thirty internal measurements of each
vehicle are recorded and verified in a laboratory, with data on over
150 vehicles added each year. Measurements include driver and
passenger seat heights, door and boot sills and door opening
angles and boot dimensions.
Each vehicle has a PDF factsheet listing all the data with useful
photographs.
RiDC also has guidance, based on its research with its
consumer panel, for older drivers, drivers with specific disabilities –
including about car controls – and solutions for getting in and out
and getting a wheelchair into a car.
Its latest research, due to be released this month, will look at
access of electric vehicle charge points for older and disabled
drivers.
Visit: www.ridc.org.uk/features-reviews/out-and-about/car-search.
RCOT Informed Views
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
Informed Views provide a considered view and direction from
RCOT on a contemporary topic. These resources are reviewed
every 12 months, and are updated or withdrawn as appropriate.
There are currently three informed views on the website:
• Medicines Mechanisms;
• Sustainability; and
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards of education
for future nurses.
Visit RCOT Informed Views at: www.rcot.co.uk/about-
occupational-therapy/rcot-informed-views.