Gaining the perspective of patients is invaluable in the design, management and reporting of research. As part of the process of facilitating clinical research into the effectiveness of a digital colposcope in a cervical cancer pathway, patients were involved from the outset.

Using funding made available by a Public Involvement Fund, a patient consultation group was established. The group's initial discussions informed the design of a feasibility study and funding application, which was submitted to the UK National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). A Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) representative was recruited and along with the consultation group, contributed to the ethical approvals for the study. The Patient Information Sheet and Consent Form were reviewed by the patients, to ensure readability, understandability and accessibility. The patient questionnaires and interview topics that are part of the feasibility study were also developed in conjunction with the PPI group, to make sure that women's concerns are being addressed in the research design and protocols.

The PPI consultation group's contributions helped strengthen the funding application and funding for a feasibility study was granted as part of the NIHR's Research for Patient Benefit funding scheme. Part of the grant will be used for training and reimbursement for time spent for the PPI representative. Data collection for the study is due to commence in the summer of 2021. The PPI group will be consulted at the beginning and end of the data collection period and will contribute to the data analysis and dissemination of the research output, including a Plain English Summary.

Involving patients greatly amplified the quality of the funding and ethical applications and will continue to benefit the ongoing research. Resources were widely available within the researcher's University and also through UK-wide schemes. Such resources are crucial and should be encouraged as part of all clinical research.