David Pink CEO explained that National Voices is part of the NCI Consortium. David Pink started by taking a straw poll of Links who had made a plan about who to involve, and those who had a list of actions to achieve involvement. The numbers were low obviously reflecting the start up situation for most Links . Listing voluntary organisations, individuals as users and individuals as volunteers as those for involvement from the community, he urged all Links to move ahead quickly before those with ' a mission' to effect change lose interest. By focusing on achievable objectives and involving managers as well as users early success should be entirely possible.

This presentation led nicely into a talk by Neil Betteridge, who as CEO of Arthritis Care talked about the practical aspects and impacts of involvement. Arthritis Care had focused on a single objective - the 18 week wait - by acting as a figurehead in the campaign which drew deeply and widely from arthritis sufferers' care and treatment levels to feedback into the NHS. Neil emphasized communication through all media channels with professionals before starting on the formal PPI route and a deep investigation of the patient pathway to obtain clarity for the discussion. Main aims were set to improve local services while implementing key policies and these were generally achievable through strategic improvement of services, shaping of commissioning planning, development of clear care pathways and resolution of gaps. Involving users as experts required the support for users' development in this respect but was entirely worthwhile and enabled users to communicate beyond their own experience. There was a particular emphasis on jargon busting.

Sharon Henry DHSS Northern Ireland spoke from the other side of the fence about the regional planning of PPI in Northern Ireland and the structures that were developed and revised since 2005 leading up to the Draft Health and Social Services (Reform) Northern Ireland Order 2007 and to date. Within this 20 year strategic programme the region had recognized a need for capacity building (in terms of qualified expertise) and addressed this trough the development of PG Module on PPI and a series of short courses for people to gain an overview of PPI, build evidencing skills and sharpen up their facilitation and coaching abilities. This is being complemented by publication of a guidance document for commissioners and the programme had received a real fillip through direct support for the Children and Young People Participation Network by the Office of the first Minister for Northern Ireland.

A deepening of the structures was envisaged through induction training for all elected and public members involved in PPI and this was being supported with research into quantitative and qualitative aspects of PPI - with the aim to develop tools to measure the impact of PPI. The ultimate aim was to establish national and international best practice methods which would build capacity and real change that was measurable. Ultimately it was seen that real and lasting change would not be possible without real capacity for change, a commitment of resources and shared values for people to agree and focus around. In these respects the Northern Ireland programme appears far longer term than the planning of the Links, and perhaps demonstrate a degree of 'ownership' by the local service providers to involvement than on the UK mainland.