Do you have lived experience of cancer, either as a patient or care-giver? Are you passionate about improving cancer services and ensuring patient voices are heard?

We are looking for a Patient and Public Involvement Steering Group Lead to help lead our volunteer network. This is a rewarding opportunity to use your lived experience to help improve cancer care for people across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, now and in the future.

Please email lucy.fitzgerald@helpandcare.org.uk or call 07971 755079 to express an interest or if you have any questions.

We know that caring for someone with cancer can be challenging, exhausting and often invisible. Many care-givers tell us they simply “get on with it” and are not always asked how things are for them.

Many do not see themselves a carer – just a good partner or spouse, parent, child, or friend. But when these responsibilities become ongoing and essential to someone else’s daily wellbeing, that is caring.

To be able to recognise and support carers better, we are asking people to share these experiences via this survey in October.

These will be used to help improve local services, shape future support, and make sure carers are better recognised, listened to and supported. Find out more on our webpage. Every response matters.

As part of a WCA-funded study, Southampton University have developed version 1 of a screening tool to help identify the support needs of people affected by cancer. We are looking for people who have had cancer to test that the questions work well.

We would be grateful if you would complete the survey which will take about 10 to 15 minutes. To test the questions and find out more click here

We are working with local people affected by cancer to develop and refine Cancer Signposting and Support. This new service will combine an online resource with personalised support from care coordinators, helping people access information, services and community support more easily. We will soon be testing both elements of the service, including the language, accessibility, navigation and overall user experience, before a wider launch.

If you would like to help test the service and share your feedback, please email wessexcanceralliance@wca.uhs.nhs.uk

Involving People are working with us to improve access to cancer treatment and support services for people with sight and hearing loss.

Evidence shows that people with sensory impairments experience significantly poorer access to cancer services, including inaccessible information, communication barriers, and feeling unheard or overlooked. These inequalities can lead to delayed diagnosis, poorer treatment experiences, and worse health outcomes. This project focuses on addressing these issues by translating what people already know works into meaningful, system‑level improvements.

If you are interested in getting involved with this project, email involvingpeople@helpandcare.org.uk

We have been working with communities to gather local insight about the late diagnosis of women of Black African and Black Afro-Caribbean heritage. We know there are differences in experiences of cancer care and support. To address these we would like to set up a small group of women, GPs and other healthcare professionals to design, prioritise and hold us to account over a programme of work to find solutions to these issues.

Initially we would meet to get to know each other, share what we know the barriers and opportunities to make a difference, and come up with a prioritised action plan. Then once work is underway we will meet periodically to update the Group and make sure actions are being progressed.

We will meet at times to suit those who want to get involved, for example, in the evening. Depending on where people are based we will meet at a community venue as centrally as possible.

Who to contact: sue.newell@wca.uhs.nhs.uk