Plea for public help in cancer treatment decisions

The alliance said it wanted people to come forward to get the public voice heard in health meetings

Members of the public, carers and volunteers are being encouraged to come forward to help improve cancer treatment and diagnosis for patients across the West Midlands.

The West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA) said it needed patient advocates to share their views and experiences in order to inform decisions made by groups including hospital trusts and charities.

The alliance works to support patients and a spokeswoman said those who took up the role would make sure public voices were heard at meetings with healthcare staff.

"We want to ensure that everyone in the West Midlands receives the same high-quality care regardless of where they live," Carolyn Parker, from the alliance, said.

"Understanding the patient experience is key to helping us achieve that.

"The more information we have from patients and the public, the better placed we are to make informed decisions that improve services and outcomes for those diagnosed with cancer."

People interested in the advocate role could apply through their website, a WMCA spokesperson added.