As part of the Mount Vernon Cancer Services review, more than 75 online engagement events have taken place with patients, families, support groups and stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard in the development of plans.
These events have identified some key themes for patients, families and local people, which we want to explore in more detail as plans develop to ensure the future services best meet the needs of cancer patients and their carers.
We have set up 11 themed patient and public workstreams, most of which will continue throughout the review, at least until a final plan is agreed. They are open to all patients, carers, patient representatives and local people from Hertfordshire, North West London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, East Berkshire and North Central London.
You can join a workstream you are interested in by registering for one of the workstream events, even if you cannot attend all the meetings.
We are continuing to do this preparation work, although public consultation on the proposals will not take place until we have identified where the funding will come from for the plans. At the time of writing (7th June 2021), we estimate we will need approximately £229 million and have not yet reached agreement on how this would be funded.
The Meeting the Needs of Patients with Learning Disabilities workstream is examining the needs of patients and carers with Learning Disabilities and seek to understand how best to engage with them and their carers, hear their views and involve them in planning and designing services. The group provides advice and support to develop a programme of work to involve and engage those with Learning Disabilities and carers in the most appropriate way, supporting them to participate in all aspects of the review, and ensure they have a voice in the public consultation. Those with Learning Disabilities or experience of, or an interest in caring for patients with Learning Disabilities, are welcome to join to help us identify how best to hear the views of those with Learning Disabilities, and how to support people with Learning Disabilities to get involved.