INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

Thank you for your interest in The East of England Radiotherapy Network Patient Co-Production Volunteer Group and for taking the time to read this information. We hope this provides you with information about the role of a Patient Co-Production Volunteer, but please do contact us if you have any further questions.

Patient Co-Production Volunteers use their personal experience of radiotherapy services to influence current and future services. In our Network the roles include, but are not limited to, consultation on: the Network’s annual work plan, radiotherapy service configuration (what radiotherapy services are delivered where), development of patient information, and patient radiotherapy experience survey action plans. You do not need to have any other skills other than your personal experience of using radiotherapy services. We’ll give you the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may have that will support you to be involved, such as easy-read versions of documents.

Co-Production is ensuring that people with lived experience are included in decision making, to ensure services work well, and are fit for purpose. Services working together with people and communities means that services will be fit for purpose and tailored to the needs of the patients their families and carers. It also means that people will feel valued and heard. Using everyone’s experience and expertise, we will get to the right solutions faster and services will work better. This role will support the Network in ensuring that any person receiving radiotherapy within the East of England will be receiving the same access to a high standard of radiotherapy, with the same treatment protocols, in line with national recommendations. 

Any patient or carer of someone who has had radiotherapy in one of the East of England radiotherapy departments within the last five years. The person must be over 18 years old. Training and DBS checks are required as part of the role.  

Meetings will be held online during the day and in the evening. The time commitment will depend on the action plan you will be supporting, but usually this is no more than once a month, with some email correspondence in-between. Before you accept any specific role, we will advise you of the time commitments needed. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this information. If  you would like to apply, or have further questions, please contact Alison Bowman, the Network Project Manager.