On 30th March, the INSPIRE consortium and Cancer Patients Europe hosted a webinar called ‘INSPIRE: Strengthening Patient Participation in Palliative Rehabilitation Research’. The event aimed to strengthen patient involvement by gathering priorities and expectations regarding palliative rehabilitation during cancer treatment.
Dr Jo Bayly, INSPIRE scientific manager, gave an overview of the INSPIRE project and Professor Matthew Maddocks, Chief Investigator, presented preliminary results. Jo explained how the initial idea for INSPIRE came directly from a patient who wondered why the rehab he received towards the end of his life wasn’t offered earlier.
A panel discussion, including Dr Jo Bayly, three patient advocates – Christine Campbell, Katell Maguet and David Chuter – and Dr Cathy Payne from the European Association for Palliative Care, explored patients’ priorities in palliative rehabilitation. Discussions included the need for a personalised approach, the importance of small, everyday goals, and challenges facing younger, ‘fitter’ patients for whom rehab goals and expectations may differ. Although INSPIRE is designed to be integrated into existing services, this relies on local services being available, and panel members discussed the ‘postcode lottery’ and differences in availability and access to services.
The event was attended by 37 people, and the recording can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_biFIhSluYU