The Health Protection Agency wants to find out what people know and think about public health issues and hazards like infectious diseases, chemicals, poisons, and radiation.

We want you to get involved

We want people to help us to further develop our services.  Our survey and discussion groups were just the beginning

If you would like to become a member of our people's panel, or would just like to receive more information about the Agency, please complete our online form.

What people have been saying

The Agency began asking people for their views on health protections issues last year starting with a survey of 1,500 adults across England. This summer a group of volunteers drawn from the original survey participants agreed to take part in a series of discussion groups.

The discussion groups were held in venues in London, Exeter, Birmingham and Leeds. They talked about the health protection issues identified in the survey that most concerned people specifically health care acquired infections often known as 'hospital superbugs' like MRSA.

Each group was asked how the Agency can improve the information it provides on this subject. Also the opportunity was taken to ask them what they thought was the best way for people to have their say in the work of the Agency.

The discussion groups said:

1. Health care acquire infection information

• Produce leaflets and posters with self help advice and tips on how to protect yourself from these infections.
• The single most important piece of advice is remembering to wash your hands thoroughly so make sure it is prominent.
• As well as posters, give patients and hospital visitors a wallet sized card listing the hints and tips.
• Don't just give this information to the public make sure health and social care staff receive it both when training and as a reminder to follow good hand hygiene.

2. Give us a say in the HPA

Allow people to choose how much they want to get involved in the work of the Agency. Offer people three levels of involvement:

• Level 1: They receive updates, newsletters, occasional surveys and invitations to events.
• Level 2: They receive everything from level 1 plus invitations to take part in one-off discussion groups.
• Level 3: They receive everything from level 2 plus the offer to join a Health Protection Agency reference group or committee which meets regularly throughout the year.

More information about what people said in the discussion groups 

Having your say (PDF, 162 KB)

• Public Opinion Survey 2007
  Added/updated: 14 August 2009