The user partnership group (UPG) is made up of people who have experience of cancer services either as a patient, carer or health professional, who work together to help make a difference.

What is the aim of the UPG?

The UPG aims to identify areas of improvement as well as areas of excellence, from a service user perspective. In this way, we help to ensure that future patients and their carers have an easier cancer journey, and have access to high quality, patient-centred care across the network area.

What does the UPG do?

The UPG provides a forum for patients, carers and health professionals to work together to shape local cancer services in the Network area. The UPG is the cancer network's primary source of advice for patient and carer issues.

Members of the UPG are involved in the decision making process and sit on cancer network groups such as network site specific groups (NSSG) and the network board.

Members regular comment on research proposals, patient survey's, network patient information leaflets and national consultations.

What could you do?

You can contribute as little or as much time as you are able to. There are a variety of ways in which you can help.  For example:

• becoming a member of the UPG
• helping to establish and maintain links with support groups and other interested groups
• taking part in surveys
• contributing to consultations and discussions by email
• commenting on patient information
• helping design questionnaires

What's in it for me?

• Your experiences of using cancer services are unique and these experiences could help future patients and carers.
• Join together to become one effective cancer voice for patients and carers.
• Learn more about how the NHS works.
• Advise us on different ways we can involve patients and carers.
• Become more knowledgeable about the different types of cancers and their treatments.

What we are not;

The UPG is not a complaints forum.  If you have an individual complaint or concern, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at your local hospital.  We are also not a support group, for a list of support groups in the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network area please follow the link; support groups.

This video features members of the user partnership group talking about why they are involved in the cancer network.

We do not assume any responsibility for the video links that appear at the end of this video or for any video that you browse to after following these links.

Please find below the minutes and agendas
for the last five meetings.