Supporting Research To Improve Bowel Cancer Outcomes – Patient/Public Volunteers Needed
The Bowel Cancer Intelligence (BCI) UK Patient Public Group is seeking new volunteer patients, carers and members of the public with an interest in healthcare data to help improve outcomes for patients.
Dedicated, enthusiastic individuals are wanted to act as ‘critical friends’ for research that will help improve bowel cancer outcomes across the UK. No previous experience of research, or involvement with health data, is necessary.
Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK. Every year over 42,000 people are diagnosed with it and 16,000 die from it. Despite huge investment in care and research there remains major variation in diagnosis, treatment and outcome, and survival rates in the UK lag behind many comparable countries.
BCI UK works with two well- established research programmes, the UK Colorectal Cancer Intelligence Hub (The Hub) and the Yorkshire Cancer Research Bowel Cancer Improvement Programme (YCR BCIP) which have been set up to address the challenges involved in using patient data to improve outcomes for bowel cancer patients.
BCI is particularly keen to encourage patients from Yorkshire, as the hospital Trusts across the three Yorkshire Cancer Alliances, including West Yorkshire and Harrogate, are active participants.
The Patient and Public Group meets monthly, usually during working hours, and meetings last for up to three hours. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meetings currently take place virtually on Zoom. This may be subject to change once restrictions are relaxed, and subject to consultation with group members.
Support, induction and training will be provided, and relevant expenses will be covered (eg to cover travel, accommodation and food whilst undertaking programme activities). Subject to confirmation from Cancer Research UK, honoraria will be offered for programmer -related work at a rate in line with INVOLVE guidelines.
Work undertaken by PPG members includes:
- Critically appraising research proposals and outputs, for relevance to patients and the public;
- Working with the research teams to propose and co-produce new initiatives;
- Participating in and influencing external events;
- Working with the research teams to produce plain language summaries of our publications, and promote findings and recommendations.
To apply or seek further information, please contact Emily Boldison. E.boldison@leeds.ac.uk .
Closing date for applications is 12pm on 18th March 2021.
Visit https://bci.leeds.ac.uk/ for more information about the work of the BCI.
