A man who survived cancer and used his experience to help others has continued to advise NHS staff as a “critical friend”.

John Woods set up ProActive, a prostate cancer support group, after being successfully treated for the disease at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

Now, he is a member of the hospital’s Patient Panel, a group that gives NHS patients a voice.

He has written the following account about the panel’s work.

Lying in a hospital bed or sitting in a waiting room gives you time to observe, and over the last eight years my three in-patient stays and many out-patient appointments at Princess Alexandra’s Hospital (PAH) gave me much to think about.

While my treatment at PAH for prostate cancer has always been very good, the hospital had troubles. The staff always did their best, but the system was creaking, with delays in discharging patients and other problems.

After my successful cancer treatment I helped to set up ProActive, the only prostate cancer self-help group in west Essex.

Through ProActive, I met more PAH staff and saw how they were trying to improve the patient’s experience of a hospital stay and was asked to join the Patient Panel. This was explained as a group of “critical friends” who would look at the running of PAH and anything within its site, and would be the patient’s voice.

The Patient Panel was set up 18 months ago, and consists of local people who want to make a difference.

PAH has taken to the Patient Panel with enthusiasm. We have been asked to provide patient representatives for regular meetings of sub committees of the Trust Board, and for many departmental committees.

We are currently looking at ways of streamlining and improving the patient discharge system, and improving the bus services to the hospital, but I do not think there is a way of solving the parking problem to everyone’s satisfaction.

All hospitals have financial problems and the Patient Panel’s suggestions have to be affordable, but improvements for patients do not have to cost huge amounts.

Setting up protected mealtimes, so patients can eat without being disturbed, or working with PAH staff to ensure compassionate end-of-life care for palliative patients and their families makes changes for the better at little cost. 

Most PAH buildings are over 50 years old and need much expensive work, but there are many  smaller projects which can improve conditions, such as re-fitting toilets and creating quiet rooms near the wards where patients and relatives can relax in privacy. The buildings are confusing so the recent complete replacement of direction signs will help patients.

The management of a hospital is complex, from high-tech surgery to building maintenance, but all the staff I have met are keen to find ways of making a patient’s stay more comfortable and less stressful. They, and the Patient Panel, have the full support of the hospital management.

If you would like to help make a difference, you can get details of the Patient Panel from the Patient Experience Team on 01279 827084 or patient.panel@pah.nhs.uk.

In a new series on the NHS, the Guardian will feature experiences of patients, their families and staff of treatment provided across east London and west Essex. As A&Es continue to struggle with demand and politicians argue over the future of healthcare, we will publish first-hand accounts, features and news stories on the latest developments. We want to hear from you if you have something to say about your local hospital, GP surgery, or clinic. Click here for contact details of reporters covering your area. Alternatively, you can submit a story here.