Press release
Minister for Health announces call for expressions of interest for membership of the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today announced a call for expressions of interest for membership of the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee.
The Cancer Patient Advisory Committee was established in 2019 to provide input to the development of programmes for patients with cancer.
It is primarily made up of people with direct experience of cancer treatment, either as patients or supporters of cancer patients, or those who support cancer patients as part of their work.
Launching the call for expressions of interest, Minister Donnelly said:
"The input of the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee to policy formulation and planning helps to ensure that our cancer services continue to serve the needs of people living with and beyond cancer to the highest possible standard. I would like to thank Committee members for their commitment and contribution to date. This has been invaluable in providing direct, effective cancer patient input to the development of programmes and services."
Committee member Noelle Duddy said:
"As individuals living with the experience of a cancer diagnosis, we come together in the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee, uniting our voices, knowledge and expertise to actively inform and affect cancer practices and policies. Thus we are enabling change and improving cancer patients’ treatments and outcomes. We meet in partnership with the Department of Health, National Cancer Control Programme and the HSE. It has been an. honour for me to serve on the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee."
The application period will run until 15 January 2024. Further information about the Committee and the Expression of Interest form are available online. The full text of the National Cancer Strategy is also available.
The four overarching goals of the National Cancer Strategy are to:
The Cancer Patient Advisory Committee was established in 2019, in line with Recommendation 39 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, which states that: “The Department of Health will establish a Cancer Patient Advisory Committee to provide input into the development of programmes for patients with cancer."
Membership of this committee reflects the diverse nature of patients living with the effects of cancer and ensures that the needs of patients living in more remote areas are represented.
The Committee is comprised of 15 members, plus a Chair (Department of Health). A representative of the National Cancer Control Programme attends meetings of the Committee. The vacancies to be filled have arisen from an intended turnover in membership.
The selection process will be undertaken by a group comprising representatives of the Irish Cancer Society, the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme, the Department of Health and a member of the former Cancer Patient Forum.