Patients' area

We recognise that patients and the public have invaluable knowledge and experience which can help improve local services for cancer patients across the West Midlands. 

Through the Alliance, patients, carers, members of the public, support groups and voluntary organisations can sign up to become patient advocates, offering you the chance to shape decision making by sharing your views and personal experiences. 

Anyone with lived experience over the last five years is encouraged to apply for the voluntary role of 'patient advocate'.

Patient advocates ensure that the ‘public’ voice is heard at meetings with local healthcare professionals, allowing them to build future services that provide the best care for cancer patients.

Working closely with health care organisations, such as hospital Trusts, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), charities and patient groups, patients and clinicians have the shared goal of improving diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients.

By joining us as a patient advocate, there are opportunities to:

• Help produce patient-facing information
• Comment on documents, publications and key issues
• Engage in online surveys
• Share personal stories and views at meetings and/or events.

Patient advocates also form part of a virtual network allowing them the chance to contribute to the Alliance regardless of their personal commitments or circumstances.

Patient Advocate Handbook

Our Patient Advocate Handbook has been created to bring together all the information anyone thinking of becoming a patient advocate needs in one place.

It includes:

• An overview of West Midlands Cancer Alliance
• A simple guide to what  being a patient advocate involves 
• The different ways you can become involved
• Training and support
• A link to the National Cancer Plan

It replaces a series of separate documents that were previously sent out during the recruitment process in a user-friendly format.

Patient Advocate Handbook 2026

Help grow the people's voice

Work with us to grow the people's voice. The more information we have from patients and public, the better placed we are to make informed decisions and improve services, health and care outcomes across the West Midlands.

Readers Panel

We've created a Readers’ Panel, which is a group made up of Patient Advocates and members of the public who are passionate about improving cancer services across the West Midlands. These individuals volunteer their time to review draft patient information materials developed by WMCA and partner cancer services.

The purpose of the panel is to ensure that all written patient information, such as leaflets, appointment letters and service guides, is clear, accurate, accessible, and easy to understand from a patient or public perspective. The panel’s feedback plays a key role in helping us communicate more effectively with the people we serve.

Members of the Readers’ Panel will receive copies of draft information and be asked to review them before the materials are finalised and published.

We are looking for patients willing to contribute to the work of the WMCA and its partners, please contact us by filling in your details in the form below:

For more information contact Carolyn Parker, Project Improvement Manager - People and Community Engagement, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.