PEOPLE with cancer and carers in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney health district are being invited to join a new group that will help improve services for patients.

PEOPLE with cancer and carers in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney health district are being invited to join a new group that will help improve services for patients.

The Together Against Cancer group is open to anyone with direct experience of living with cancer or treating the illness and who wants to help make patients' views heard.

Set up by NHS Yarmouth and Waveney, it forms part of the Anglia Cancer Network that helps to influence the shape of future services and provides direct patient feedback to the NHS.

Maggie Parsons, cancer commissioning manager with the primary care trust, said: 'This group has been designed to make sure the views of those who have been affected by cancer are fully taken into account when decisions are made about future services.

'This is a genuine opportunity for anyone who has direct experience of living with cancer to make a

real difference to others with the illness.

'Above all, the group will play a vital role in acting as the voice of patients across Yarmouth and Waveney.

'We would encourage anyone who has been affected by cancer and is interested in helping to shape a better service for the future to get in touch and find out more.'

As well as consulting people whose lives have been affected by cancer, the group will look in detail at the experiences of patients during their diagnosis and treatment.

Members will also represent the views of patients and carers to the Anglia Cancer Network to ensure that future services take full account of people's needs.

The meetings begin on Tuesday, November 24, and will take place every month.

Anyone interested in joining the group can contact the Anglia Cancer Network on 01638 608215.