Community of Practice 2025: A day of Patient Voices, Learning and Networking

The annual community of Practice was held on the 30th September 2025 at Riverside East, Stratford. Invitations went to patients, carers and healthcare professionals for a dat shaped by lived experience, practical learning and new connections. 

Patient voices set the tone from the onset as Eddie Conor spoke about cultural attitudes to cancer and his own journey, highlighting how stigma and misinformation can delay help seeking. Another patients, Yinka Lawal shared his experience of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, reflecting on the support he received and the importance of clear information at every step. 

The NELCA Early diagnosis team followed with an engaging session anchored by an interactive quiz on sun safety that tested knowledge and dispelled common myths. Building on this, the team outlines progress on the Sun Safety Van and offered straightforward actions people can take to reduce risk in everyday life. 

Unpaid carers were brought into focus by patient partner Tony Collins- Moore, also of the carers centre- Tower Hamlets, who presented a short film illustrating the realities many carers face: navigating services, balancing everyday life and protecting their own wellbeing. Questions from the floor prompted a practical discussion on access and referrals, with Harriet, a care coordinator from the carers centre, explaining the support available in hospital settings and how staff can signpost more effectively.

The Diagnostic and treatment team at NELCA discussed how rapidly evolving communication and technology are improving cancer care. They highlighted the 10 year cancer plans priorities- prevention, more community based care, and moving from legacy systems to modern digital tools. They discussed plans to use AI for skin cancer diagnostics and introduced a Smart Visual Assistant that offers medically approved FAQs and step by step guidance, links to trusted NHS resources, and personalised content based on age, condition and appointment type. this sparked questions from the audience about keeping human interaction at the heart of care, a point the NELCA team agreed with and strongly reaffirmed. 

Holistic health nutritionist Nitu Pasricha delivered an informative talk on nutrition, sharing simple ideas that fit busy lives. Attendees said that they left with new tips they planned to adopt. 

Energy levels in the room rose as Lorraine from NELCA's personalised care team spoke about physical activity and introduced the community games (LINK) , an initiative run by NELCA to boost activity and confidence. In a lively demonstration, she invited the audience to try three quick exercises, proving that movement can indeed by fun, social and achievable in a few minutes. 

Networking threaded through ght day, with a dedicated session encouraging participants to rotate seats and meet someone new. Stall holders added depth to the conversations, with informative stands from Citizens Advice East End, FORWARD, The Carers Center (Tower hamlets) Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer support and AAMF. The mix brought stallholders, carers, clinicians and patients into conversations, sparking ideas and future collaborations. 

Closing the event, Sarah Koya, Patient Experience and Engagement Lead, thanks speakers, volunteers and partners "Thank you to all NEL Cancer Alliance Community of Practice partners who attended the event. your presence, energy, and participation made is truly special. We deeply appreciate your support and engagement, and we hope you founf the event meaningful and inspiring. We look forward to staying connected and seeing you at future events. Until then, take care and thank you once again". 

Please see the video highlights below.