Pennine Cancer and Palliative Care User Group seeks new members

Felicity Keeling, Macmillan Information and Support Service Manager

The Pennine Patient User Partnership (PPUP), a cancer and palliative care user group for patients and their carers is seeking new members.

The PPUP group, supported by The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support, was formed in 2006 and has a long established membership made up mainly from people living in the Oldham area.

In order to better represent the catchment area of the Trust, the group is now looking to bring in new members from other areas, so cancer patients and carers responsible for looking after someone with cancer are invited to join the group.

There are many ways for people to get involved, and members can choose how they would like to help, how much and how often. The group holds regular meetings to discuss ways of improving patient experience and to find out about developments in cancer care.

The monthly meetings, which are held in the evening in the education centre at The Royal Oldham Hospital, are attended by members of the Trust Cancer & Palliative Care Team and also the Trust’s lead nurse for patient experience.

If you would like to find out more about the group or if you are interested in joining or attending as a guest then please contact the group lead Alison McCarthy, Macmillan Lead Cancer & Palliative Care Nurse, on 0161 627 8699. 

The group also has close links with the Trust’s Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, which has worked with members on initiatives including the setting up of a cancer buddy scheme, and the development of a leaflet for cancer patients to help them cope with the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis.

The centre, which anyone can access, is based on the North Manchester General Hospital site between C & D block, towards The Gallery Restaurant. More information about the centre is available on the Trust website: http://www.pat.nhs.uk/our-services/macmillan-centre.htm

Alternatively people can contact the centre by phone on: 0161 604 5244, or email: macmillan.infocentre@pat.nhs.uk.