Psychosocial

The West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA) Psychosocial EAG was formed in 2024 as an expert consultative body on issues relating to psychosocial care of people with cancer in the West Midlands and to support delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions for cancer relating to psychosocial care.

The aim of the EAG is to provide expert advice and strategic oversight to the WMCA psychosocial programme of work to improve the  diagnosis, treatment, well-being and recovery of people affected by cancer within the WMCA region.  

In 2023 the WMCA carried out a mapping project identifying the Psychosocial services across the West Midlands. Following this, a number of recommendations to improve psychosocial services across the region were agreed for WMCA and our constituent ICBs to implement.  

This includes-

  • Develop and implement integrated psychosocial care pathways in each ICB.Develop integrated care pathways across NHS Talking Therapies in the West Midlands including training and supervision for NHS Talking Therapy staff. This will aim to increase access for patients Living With & Beyond Cancer to Level 3 interventions within the community and primary care.
  • Develop evidence-based resources to support sleep and fatigue
  • Improve access to level 2 psychological support training for cancer healthcare professionals

Chair - Dr Hannah Seabrook, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Deputy Chair – Dr Sahil Suleman, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Lead for Cancer Psychology Service, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Documents

A positive practice guide to meeting the psychosocial needs of older people with cancer