FYI BMJ Reviewing

[A Former User]

Dear Patient Reviewers,

Many thanks for your ongoing interest and support for the BMJ's patient partnership work. We greatly value the commitment you have made to act as a patient reviewer for The BMJ. Many of you have reviewed papers for us already but we are aware that some of you have not yet been invited to do this. This does not mean that your account is inactive or that we won't invite you soon. It's just that invitations to review depend on us being sent papers which cover the experience and specific interests you have given.

Patient review of papers alongside traditional peer review is innovative and early feedback suggests it adds appreciable value to the papers we publish. We want to learn more about the value of patient reviews and to find ways of improving the patient review experience. You will be invited to take part in a survey later this year aimed at helping us to improve our patient review process.

Many of you have requested examples of patient reviews. We are pleased to say that we have now added some links to published patient reviews in the patient reviewer general guidance on bmj.com (http://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-reviewers/guidance-patient-reviewers), under the FAQ "Can I see some examples of completed patient reviews?" You should bear in mind that every paper and reviewer is different so these are examples, not set guides on style and format.

We take data privacy seriously and our database is only accessed by BMJ editors and editorial staff and very occasionally by researchers working on specific projects under contract. We do not, and will not share your data with other parts of our business without your prior permission. Nor do we or will we share your data with third parties without your consent.

We are taking this opportunity to update our database of reviewers. You do not need to do anything if you are happy to continue as a patient reviewer. If you would like to withdraw, please simply reply "WITHDRAW" to this email. We understand that circumstances change and we appreciate the help you have given us to date.

If tthere are any issues, concerns or technical difficulties you would like to share please do get in touch with Sam Parker (samuel.parker@bmj.com). Meanwhile I should like to thank you again warmly for your support. It's much appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Tessa Richards

Senior Editor/Patient Partnership

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