To celebrate Volunteers Week 2023 (1-7 June), Wendy Broderick blogs about how she's volunteered to use her personal experience to support research into arthritis.
Wendy Broderick is a valued member of the NIHR Newcastle BRC’s Public Partnership Advisory Group (PPAG) – a group of public volunteers who kindly donate their time to help us put patient experience at the heart of our research.
As a young adult Wendy was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and later Adult Stills disease. Her quality of life has benefitted greatly because of research into new treatments for arthritis.
Wendy is a clinical pharmacist with 40 years of experience in the NHS. However, leading up to her 60th birthday, after a second hip replacement, she retired on the grounds of ill health.
In preparation for retirement, she took on the role as a patient lay member with the then Arthritis Research UK charity (ARUK) where she used her professional and patient experience.
She then became a member of the Strategic Advisory group when the charity became Versus Arthritis. She has been involved in many aspects of the charity’s research agenda and the continued development of patient involvement.
She says:
“The majority of the work I have undertaken with Versus Arthritis has involved reviewing and evaluating research applications. However there have been times I have been asked to undertake other tasks. One opportunity was working to improve the lives of people with multiple long-term conditions. This involvement was inspirational and meaningful and will in the future make it better for patients with co-morbidities.”
Wendy also tries to get involved in research locally. She is a member of the Patient and public Involvement and engagement in Musculoskeletal reSearch (PIMS) group - part of our Musculoskeletal Disease and Inflammation Medicine theme.
Patient Involvement in Musculoskeletal Services group in Newcastle, as well as a valued member of the BRC’s PPAG.
“We need well-informed patients and HCPs [health care professionals] who understand what people with arthritis have to deal with day-to-day”.
And to anyone thinking of getting involved in research, Wendy says:
“Please give it a go. A patient with lived experience can bring so much, add another perspective, to make any research project meaningful and better for patients in the future. If it seems a bit scary at first, try and find another patient partner to buddy up with, to help you until you feel confident. The patient involvement role is really starting to develop so it is an exciting time to get involved.”
Find out more about the BRC's PPAG
Find out more about the PIMS group