Mersey Care is rolling out a new system called Count Me In. The aim is to increase the number of service users involved in research activities so future care and treatments can be improved.
Count Me in is different because it allows researchers, not just clinicians, to directly contact service users who are eligible for taking part in research activities that are relevant to them.
It offers service users more control and opportunities to engage in research that will benefit both themselves and others, by improving services. Any involvement in research by service users is their choice.
All current service users and anyone who has been a service user of Mersey Care in the past five years, will automatically be included into the Count Me In system. This is governed by strict data confidentiality and patient privacy rules.
It will enable us to identify and contact more people to take part in various research activities if they meet the required criteria – unless they choose to opt out.
There is now a process in place for service users to opt-out of being contacted about research opportunities. By the end of 2024 we will have completed work on the system which can be used it to identify service users who could be relevant to participate in research activities.
Watch our animation to learn more about Count Me In:
They can:
- Complete the online form on the Mersey Care website
- Call 0151 351 8476 (lines open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) to receive assistance to complete form
- Speak with their clinical team.
Please be aware as a clinician, you may be asked by service users about this process.
The Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC) Trusted Research Environment (TRE) is a highly secure and controlled environment that allows a safe way to access, store and analyse sensitive data relevant to research. Researchers will not have direct access to the TRE.
As part of the development of Count Me In, around 300 people have been consulted through various events and meetings. These include service users and carers, staff, and members of the public. Their feedback has been used to shape Count Me In and our communications campaign.
We have launched a widespread internal and external communications campaign to ensure all our staff, service users and stakeholders are aware of Count Me In.
Staff are being informed through updates in our newsletters, YourSpace, Staff Facebook group, YourBrief, and more. We are also holding an online information event for staff on 5 December at 10am. This is open to all staff and you can register to attend via section 9 on the Learning and Development Prospectus.
We are informing service users through patient letters, posters, videos, leaflets, screens in waiting areas, the Trust's website, social media, engagement activities, by working with community organisations, a radio campaign and much more.
When research activities supported by Mersey Care need to be conducted, they will put in a request to the Count Me In team. If approved, data scientists in M-RIC, linked with the Count Me In team, will review the TRE for service users who meet the research criteria.
The Count Me In team will cross reference the output from the TRE list against the master service user list which contains details of those who have opted out. Only patient ID numbers are shared with researchers within the Trust to protect privacy.
Mersey Care researchers, supported by clinicians (when relevant), will then contact eligible service users or patients to inform them of the research opportunities.
Following this, if patients and service users show interest, researchers or members of the Count Me In team will provide detailed study information and obtain consent for participation, adhering to strict data protection protocols.
