Derek Stewart, a former cancer patient, speaks about his work with the Consumer Liason Group providing a patient perspective for cancer research groups and cancer services. This group allows patients to have involvement in clinical trial design to help the trials appeal to patients. The patients' perspective had traditionally been neglected when designing trials and trial recruitment is at a low across the whole of Europe and America. Mr Stewart explains why patient involvement is essential if trials are to recruit the maximum number of patients possible and talks about the different ways that cancer patients can find clinical trials to join. Mr Stewart discusses why he feels patient uptake for clinical trials in the UK is higher than in mainland Europe, explains how patients can improve clinical trials, talks about the NCRI review of patient quality of life and care after completion of cancer treatment and stresses the need for more GP involvement in the care programme of their patients.