The Addenbrooke's Cancer Patient Partnership Group (CPPG) is a group of volunteer patients and carers who work with hospital staff to improve cancer services by sharing the patients’ views and raising concerns on their behalf.
This activity is good for wellbeing because
- using your experience of having a cancer diagnosis or caring for someone with a cancer diagnosis will help others in the same situation;
- regular contact with other people with a cancer diagnosis (and their carers) will help you feel less alone;
- knowing that you can make a positive difference to NHS services feels good.
How to contact
Phone
Where to go
Addenbrooke's Hospital
Hills Road
Cambridge
UK
Available throughout East Cambridgeshire District
UK
What to expect
Addenbrooke’s Cancer Patient Partnership Group (CPPG) is looking for new patient and carer members to help bring positive change to cancer services. The CPPG is made up of cancer patients, carers and health professionals, working together to ensure that all perspectives surrounding cancer treatment are heard and considered by those providing care.
The CPPG meets every two months, mostly online though occasionally in person on the Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) site in Cambridge. You are eligible to join the Group if you are have been treated for cancer at CUH in the past five years, or have cared for someone with cancer who has been treated by CUH in the past five years. You don’t have to live in Cambridgeshire.
A typical meeting might entail a visit to a CUH service (for example, the pharmacy) to talk to professionals and clinicians about how they support and treat cancer patients. The Group also works closely with other cancer support services, to ensure they are supporting the full range of challenges and concerns that affect people with cancer and their carers. How information is communicated, in person and in writing, is a particular focus, with the Group helping to inform the most effective and considerate way to ensure people understand what they need to know at all stages of their journey.
As well as invitations to meetings, you will also receive a weekly newsletter.
Joining the CPPG will make a tangible impact on how people experience cancer treatment at CUH – you can see some of the achievements of the Group on this link.
More information
The CPPG is recruiting at present and is keen to attract younger members (aged 16+) as well as people from more diverse backgrounds.
If you are interested, contact Gina Edwards who runs the CPPG on the email address or telephone number above. She’ll have a chat with you about what membership entails and ask you to fill out a form. You will then be invited to meet the CPPG Chair. Commitment and enthusiasm are more important than committee experience or any particular skills.
There are other local services and groups available for people with a cancer diagnosis and their carers who also welcome volunteers – click on the links below to find out more:
Joining the CPPG is free. Travel expenses including mileage and parking are reimbursed so you won’t be out of pocket by attending meetings.
How to contact
Phone
Where to go
Addenbrooke's Hospital
Hills Road
Cambridge
UK
Available throughout East Cambridgeshire District
UK
