Published on 24 March 2025
Our Senior Responsible Officer, Dr Liz Bishop, will step down from her role at the end of March after 42 years in the NHS.
Liz has overseen Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) as its SRO since 2018, alongside her roles as Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust (CCC) and Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Foundation Trust.
During Liz’s tenure, CMCA has become one of England’s most successful Cancer Alliances, with Cheshire and Merseyside rising from below the national average for early detection of cancer five years ago, to above it, and more people surviving longer after diagnosis than ever before and longer than most patients in England for the first time.
The Cancer Alliance has also won awards for its community partnerships, raising awareness of cancer in underserved communities, and launched national training to reduce inequalities in access to cancer care. Cheshire and Merseyside patients also reported the highest levels of satisfaction nationally in the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2023.
After many years as a cancer nurse, Liz moved into hospital management and held several senior posts culminating in her role at Clatterbridge, where she led the successful opening of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool and the development of the Trust into a leading research centre. Liz also led Cheshire and Merseyside Diagnostics Programme, which has won national recognition for transforming services.
She said: “It has been an honour for me to lead CMCA and to help it to drive improvement in cancer outcomes across Cheshire and Merseyside. It is nationally recognised as a leading Cancer Alliance which is using innovation and partnership to support clinical teams and communities across our region to enhance the lives of cancer patients.”
Taking over the role of SRO will be Joan Spencer, Chief Operating Officer of CCC, who will become Interim Chief Executive of the Trust. Merseyside born and bred and a cancer nurse by background, Joan joined CCC as General Manager of Chemotherapy, developing the Trust’s networked model of care with treatment sites across Cheshire and Merseyside and driving the launch of the UK’s first ‘chemotherapy at home’ service. She became CCC’s Chief Operating Officer in 2020 and took on the additional role of Deputy Chief Executive last year.
Joan said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Senior Responsible Officer at CMCA. The Cancer Alliance has had remarkable success over several years in enhancing cancer treatment and care across Cheshire and Merseyside and I look forward to continuing to support it in improving outcomes for patients across our region.”
Jon Hayes, Managing Director of CMCA, said: “Liz’s skilful leadership has been instrumental in building CMCA into one of the most mature and successful Cancer Alliances in England. We would like to thank her for her outstanding contribution to cancer services and the valued support she has given to everyone in our organisation.
“We also welcome Joan in becoming our new SRO. She is an experienced leader who has worked in cancer services in Cheshire and Merseyside for most of her career and who will bring a huge amount of knowledge, expertise and passion to this key role.”