In this episode, host and Fuse public partner, Hannah Murray, speaks with Fuse researcher Dr Kerry Brennan-Tovey about the SEAMS study - Supporting Engagement with and Access to Maternity Services. This study explores the barriers that pregnant women on low income face when accessing maternity care.

Together, they talk about what prompted the study, how the research team ensured that a range of people from different backgrounds and experiences were involved in the research, and how the voices of pregnant people were meaningfully integrated into the research. We hear about the importance of public involvement throughout the study and how these insights helped shape the research and inform changes along the way. Kerry and Hannah reflect on what surprised the research team during the study and discuss what’s next for the research.

Kerry also answers the big question: "If you had one message for our listeners to take away, what would it be?" Listen now to find out.

Hannah Murray

Hannah is an expert by experience who has collaborated closely with Fuse and the wider public partner-led podcast planning group in creating the 'Public Health Research and Me' podcast. Her interests and specialised subjects are around public and mental health, parenthood and neurodiversity. She is also the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Manager for the Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation at Cambridge and Newcastle Universities. In her spare time, she visits castles, tries to bake (she admits not always successfully!) and watches Tony Robinson documentaries.

Kerry Brennan-Tovey

Kerry is a Research Associate at Newcastle University. Her current research includes exploring the barriers for pregnant women to accessing healthcare, evaluating maternal healthcare services, tobacco dependence services and vaping. Kerry’s research background is in public health, health sociology and health inequalities, specifically food insecurity. She is also a registered physiotherapist who has previously worked clinically in the North East of England.

Resources

Fuse⁠ - https://fuse.ac.uk

Supporting engagement with and access to maternity services - NIHR School for Public Health Research

Barriers to accessing maternity care in England - NIHR School for Public Health Research

Public involvement and community engagement within the SEAMS study - NIHR School for Public Health Research

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Bluesky: @fuseonline.bsky.social

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LinkedIn: Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health

Contact for more information, or a copy of the transcript: ⁠⁠⁠info@fuse.ac.uk⁠

With special thanks to the Fuse podcast group; Sarah Longman (editing) and Shaun O'Boyle (training). Produced by Ella Anderson and Mark Welford. Music: Tuesday (Glitch Soft Hip-hop) by amaksi.

In this episode, host and Fuse public partner, Sadia Mir, speaks with Fuse researchers Floor Christie-de Jong and Rawand Jarrar about their research on improving Muslim women's cancer screening uptake.

The IMCAN (Improving Muslim women's CANcer screening uptake) study, funded by Cancer Research UK, focuses on improving participation in breast, cervical and bowel screening among Muslim women in the UK.

Together, they talk about how the research came about and why it felt especially important to work with Muslim women. Floor and Rawand share some of their own experiences and lessons learned along the way, share advice on collaborating with the Muslim community, and touch on what’s next for the research.

Floor and Rawand also answer the big question: "If you had one message for our listeners to take away, what would it be?" Listen now to find out.

About the guests

Dr Floor Christie-de Jong is Associate Professor in Public Health in the School of Medicine at the University of Sunderland. She is also Associate Director for Fuse. Her research focuses on reducing health inequalities, particularly in cancer screening among ethnic minority groups, using community-centred, participatory and asset-based approaches.

Dr Rawand Jarrar is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Medicine at the University of Sunderland. Her research includes the use of qualitative and quantitative methods to explore how decisions are made in healthcare, including prescribing decisions and uptake of screening services.

About the host

Sadia Mir is a health and racial equity consultant, and is a Fuse public partner. Sadia champions good health for all, particularly focused on young person's mental health and women's health. She's also an advocate for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) awareness and campaigns for better rights at work for young women with the Young Women's Trust.

Resources and further information

The IMCAN study: Improving Muslim Women CANcer Screening Uptake

Beacon4Health

⁠Fuse

⁠

Follow us on Bluesky: @fuseonline.bsky.social

Follow us on X: @fuse_online

Contact for more information, or a copy of the transcript prepared by Academic Audio Transcription: ⁠⁠⁠info@fuse.ac.uk⁠

With special thanks to the Fuse podcast group; Affinity Media (editing); Shaun O'Boyle (training); and Academic Audio Transcription (transcription). Produced by Ella Anderson. Music: Tuesday (Glitch Soft Hip-hop) by amaksi.

If you're a fan of our ‘Public Health Research and Me’ podcast, please subscribe, rate or review, and share with your friends, families, colleagues and networks.

Host and Fuse public partner, Cheryl Blake, speaks with Mel and PJ who are members of UC Creatives - a participatory arts project co-produced with people who have experience of claiming Universal Credit (UC).

Using personal experiences and stories, they talk about how to set up a group like this, who is involved with UC Creatives and what opportunities have emerged from the project. Mel and PJ share how this experience differs from simply being asked to 'take part' in research, and they touch on what’s next for the UC Creatives.

Mel and PJ also answer the big question: "If you had one message for our listeners to take away, what would it be?" Listen now to find out.

About the guests

Mel and PJ are members of UC Creatives, a study funded by NIHR. The project is part of the public involvement and impact work of a large-scale mixed methods evaluation of the health impacts of UC. UC Creatives is a collaboration with members of the public with experience of UC, researchers from Newcastle University and Northumbria University, and practitioners from the St Vincent de Paul Society Deaf Centre. UC Creatives is the result of a committed and passionate organising team, including seven wonderful creative people with experience of claiming UC.

About the host

Cheryl Blake is an expert by experience who has collaborated closely with Fuse and the wider public partner-led podcast planning group in creating the 'Public Health Research and Me' podcast. Her interests and specialised subjects are around mental and sexual health, domestic abuse, coercive and violent behaviour, and family court and social workers within that system. She supports survivors of sexual/abuse to find female empowerment through art, poetry and meditation.

Resources and further information

UC Creatives

UC and Mental Health study

Evaluation of the Health Impacts of Universal Credit

⁠Fuse⁠

NIHR School for Public Health Research

Follow us on Bluesky: @fuseonline.bsky.social

Follow us on X: @fuse_online

Contact for more information, or a copy of the transcript: ⁠⁠⁠info@fuse.ac.uk⁠

With special thanks to the Fuse podcast group; Affinity Media (editing); Shaun O'Boyle (training); and Academic Audio Transcription (transcription). Produced by Ella Anderson. Music: Tuesday (Glitch Soft Hip-hop) by amaksi.

If you're a fan of our ‘Public Health Research and Me’ podcast, please subscribe, rate or review, and share with your friends, families, colleagues and networks.