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Ms. Gráinne Smith, PPP Lead

The theme of this year’s World Cancer Day is ‘United by Unique�, which focuses on people-centred care � putting those we care for at the centre of how we plan, deliver and evaluate our services.

We know from the literature that shared decision making results in better outcomes for patients. In the last few years, we have seen a momentum change from ‘doing to�, to ‘doing with� in healthcare. This change is not only about resources and training, it is about changing attitudes and approaches, moving towards ‘let’s work together to figure out what works for you�.

At Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute (TSJCI), we put people-centred care at the heart of what we do. We are fortunate that we have a highly skilled workforce who value people-centred care. There are many examples of people-centred care practices across all front-line staff. These include quality initiatives undertaken by staff across medical and surgical directorates; Quality Improvement Programmes / showcase events; hospital-based initiatives and awards such as the Daisy and Bee awards; Hello My Name Is; and international accreditation frameworks - Organisation of European Cancer Institute (OECI), Pathway to Excellence, JACIE, Magent4Europe, amongst others. The work of TSJCI Patient Representative Group is central to ensuring the lived experience of those treated for cancer in TSJCI informs how we design and deliver care, research and education across TSJCI.  

We continue to respond to the unique needs of cancer patients, as is evident in the Young Onset Cancer Programme, a programme specifically designed to address the unique and complex needs of people between the ages of 25-50 diagnosed with cancer. This programme along with my role as Patient and Public Partnership Lead, a nurse navigator role, and a Cancer Academic Clinician has been made possible by the partnership between TSJCI and the Irish Cancer Society. Aligning their visons for transforming cancer care in Ireland, this partnership will forge the way for people-centred care.

The focus of my role as Patient and Public Partnership Lead is to develop a framework for patient and public partnership across TSJCI’s four pillars of education, research, clinical trials, and clinical care. This involves scoping out current practice, identifying opportunities, developing a framework and driving its implementation. This role is the first of its kind in an Irish cancer centre. Networking with other cancer centres, cancer support services / advocacy groups, academia and organisations supporting marginalised communities� is an important element of my work. The core principles of my role are openness, inclusivity, knowledge sharing, and working creatively to ensure TSJCI works from a people-centred approach.

Through conversations with staff and patients, and from the many patients� satisfactory surveys, it is the simplest of acts that makes the difference. People and families recognise the excellent care provided and understand the pressures healthcare staff are under. The work of the volunteers on the oncology day ward is another example of how TSJCI is working from a people-centred approach. We know patients and families value communication, communication that there are delays, that they are not forgotten, that they haven’t missed their ‘spot�. Let’s continue our efforts in keeping that communication going, to build trust, show empathy and enhance our relationships.

For those diagnosed with cancer, and their families, let’s remember it’s the start of a very frightening journey. Taking a moment to ask our patients how cancer impacts their lives will help us understand what is important to people, it will help us take a holistic view and ultimately ensure our treatment and care plan is developed in partnership with them.

On this ‘United by Unique� World Cancer Day, let’s start by recognising that everyone is unique, including staff and care providers, and look for ways to unite that uniqueness, to empower people to actively participate in their own cancer journey.

For more information about World Caner Day, please see

For more information on patient and public partnership at TSJCI, please contact Gráinne Smith at [email protected]