How do I become a patient or carer representative?

Do you have personal experience of cancer as a patient or carer in north east London? We have some great opportunities for you to get involved in improving NHS cancer services for local people.

To apply for a voluntary patient or carer representative role, contact us today by email nelondonicb.pcvc@nhs.net or phone 07503 373 533.

What kind of roles are available?

We want to make sure that our volunteer opportunities are as flexible as possible so that everybody can contribute if they would like. We know that not everybody is able to attend meetings or events, so we have created three different ‘levels’ for volunteering depending on how involved you would like to be. These levels are flexible, and you can always change your level of involvement at any point.

Volunteer Level 1

This might include opportunities to take part in email surveys, give feedback on patient information and materials, attend training opportunities, and receive infrequent email bulletins and newsletters from the Cancer Alliance.

Volunteer Level 2

This includes the same activities as Level 1, but you will also have access to meeting papers and will be told about any upcoming relevant meetings and events, such as workshops and north east London healthcare events.

Volunteer Level 3

This includes the same activities as Level 1 and Level 2, but you might also be invited to participate in focus groups, telephone interviews, chair meetings, produce patient stories, give feedback on or write reports, and provide feedback from high level meetings.

We will give you technical support on how to access online meetings and emails if you need.

As a volunteer patient or carer representative, you will:

• Be a strong voice for local people across the boroughs of north east London
• Influence decision-making
• Tell us what works well and what needs improving
• Co-design future services
• Join a range of cancer projects designed to improve services, such as endoscopy, screening, and personalised care

By joining us, you’ll play an essential role in making sure that everyone can experience high-quality NHS cancer services across north east London. This is summed up beautifully in the artwork below by Natalie Bleau, one of our carer representatives.

Who can be a patient or carer representative?

To be a representative, you should have received cancer treatment, or cared for someone with cancer, in any of the following areas within the last five years:

• Barking and Dagenham
• City and Hackney
• Havering
• Newham
• Redbridge
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest

We are actively looking for more patient and carer representatives to join us for a variety of roles. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for people from all sections of our diverse community. We welcome all applicants regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+ identity, race or religion. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to any part of the process.

To apply, please email nelondonicb.pcvc@nhs.net or phone 07503 373 533.

Resources

Please feel free to download our recruitment flyer and share with colleagues and friends.

Contact details

To find our more or if you have any questions, please email nelondonicb.pcvc@nhs.net or phone 07503 373 533.