Passport to my Health and Well-being

The Passport to my Health and Well-being is designed to improve people’s experience of a cancer pathway when they are living with mental health difficulties. It’s a simple but effective document that helps people who are living with cancer and a mental health condition to describe what they need from health professionals, to make life easier for them. It’s also a diary for appointments, a recordFront cover of the passport card for vital details and a place to record thoughts and questions.

The Passport is a key tool in helping to address health inequalities people may face when accessing

treatment and help to make sure they get the right support to help them through what is a challenging experience.” Programme Director, MH ICS

“The Passport is an amazing tool for people with mental health issues who need to attend lots of medical appointments as it helps them communicate and feel in control.”  Local GP

Involving the right people

During the research phase of the Mental Health Cancer Care project, people living with mental health conditions and affected by cancer were invited to share their experiences as well as healthcare professionals providing care in cancer, mental health and primary care services. Each section of the Passport is based on those experiences.

Co-producing the passsportThe people who shared their experiences were invited to join a co-production group to develop a set of recommendations addressing issues raised during the research. One recommendation suggested developing a tool, Passport to my Health and Well-being, to enable people to share information about themselves, their cancer diagnosis and treatments with their support networks including the healthcare team.

The ‘Passport to my Health and Wellbeing’ has been co-produced by Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind in partnership with Macmillan, people with lived experience of mental health conditions who are affected by cancer, healthcare professionals in mental health, cancer and primary care services.

Help support the implementation of passport

The Integrated Care Systems – Mental Health, Northern Cancer Alliance and the Allied Health Science Network are supporting the implementation of the Passport to my Health and Well-being in Cancer, Mental Health and Primary Care services across the North East North Cumbria Region.

The Passport project team is looking to connect with Primary Care Networks, Mental Health Teams and Cancer Treatment Centres across the North East North Cumbria region to engage them in using the Passport in their organisations.  The Passport can be offered to patients and carers by healthcare practitioners and is a free resource available across North Cumbria.

There are a number of free resources to support the implementation of the passport, these include:

  • Communications resource pack for use on websites, social media platforms and in patient newsletters
  • Live 30 minute information sessions for team meetings etc.
  • Supporting information about the passport
  • Posters and leaflets for display in your patient areas
  • Supplies of the Passport to my Health and Well-being

To get involved and implement the passport in your organisation, please contact Sarah Jane Ashcroft, Mental Health Cancer Care Lead, Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind on 01642 257020 / 07802335570 or email: sarahjane.ashcroft@middlesbroughandstocktonmind.org.uk