Frequently asked questions

The research team for your trial will give you clear instructions about where you need to go for your visits, but you can also find details on how to find us here.

The research team for your trial will speak to you about any possible side effects and make sure you have enough time to understand this information before deciding whether you’d like to take part in the trial.

This information should also be given to you in a document called a Participant Information Sheet.

Your personal data will be collected as part of conducting the study and analysing the results. You can read more on the King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust website, or speak to your research team.

This information may also be included in the Participant Information Sheet which will be given to you before you are asked to consent to any study.

You are free to withdraw from the trial at any time, without having to give a reason. You will need to let the designated Research Nurse or Research Practitioner know that you no longer wish to take part. If you are unsure of their details, please contact us and we can help advise.

You can be as involved as much or as little as you’d like. If you choose to become a PPI member, you will receive emails about opportunities for involvement. Each opportunity will detail how much time you’d need to set aside to take part, and you are welcome to respond to those that suit your schedule.

We are aware that quite a few involvement and engagement events take place during typical working hours (9am-5pm). If you’d like to be involved in a particular activity but the hours are not possible for you, please get in touch.

You do not need a CV or formal qualifications from a school, university, or any other education provider to become a PPI member. However, we ask that you have an interest or lived experience in clinical trials, research, and healthcare to join us.

We hold meetings and activities both online and face-to-face. We will try to offer certain meetings in a hybrid format where some people join online, and others join in person, if there is a demand to do so.

For most involvement activities you will be paid for your time at a rate of up to £27.50 per hour, however this depends on the activity. This information will always be made clear to you. For further information, please visit the NIHR website. 

If you are a taxpayer and go above the tax threshold limit due to payment from both your employer and PPI activities, you need to inform HM Revenue and Customs. All payments from PPI activities are subject to tax and national insurance. For more information about PPI, finance, and tax, please see the NIHR website.

The benefits advice service, which is helpful for PPI members who have questions about how payments may or not affect their state benefits can be accessed by emailing: ced@nihr.ac.uk

We understand that some individuals may choose not to receive payment, request payment of a lesser amount, or prefer to receive voucher(s). We will take a flexible approach and consider individuals’ circumstances wherever possible.

We can also show members that their contributions are valued by providing, for example, certificates of attendance, and the opportunity to include their names as authors on documents and publications they have worked on, where possible.

Please contact us with what you need as we aim to accommodate individual needs and preferences.