Aims for the future
In January 2009, the Forum members and representatives of supporting agencies came together to envision the future of the group, and set out on a project “Refreshing the Voice of the Cancer Services User Forum”.
A simple question was asked: ‘What makes a good cancer services user group?’ The key responses were these:
- Recent, personal experience of cancer.
- As a patient, carer or family member
- A desire to change/improve services.
- To create a patient focused service
- To reduce inequalities in services
- Respect from professionals
- Awareness of the work of the Forum
- Effective two way communication
We recognise and embrace the positive changes that have taken place within the NHS, along with the additional levels of user involvement that this has incorporated, but as the demand for our involvement has increased so has the need to maintain the momentum and sustainability of the Group. Not everyone has time free to volunteer but they do have experiences that if shared will make a difference, so that services listen to the views of patients and carers, to help to make the cancer journey as best as possible for the people of the Rotherham borough.
