NHS cancer treatment improving, patient survey says

The last year has seen patient experience of cancer treatment improve, according to a national survey.

Overall 88% of patients rated their care as excellent or very good, and 98 trusts have improved on their scores from last year.

Approval of the speed, choice and privacy of treatment all showed slight improvement relative to the first survey in 2011.

Reports have been sent to individual trusts on feedback from patients in their care, enabling them to focus on weaknesses.

The survey, carried out by Quality Health, also found that 95% of cancer patients were keen to participate in cancer research.

Over 70,000 patients were surveyed. Relative to 2010, approval increased for speed of treatment (83% from 81%), choice of treatment (84% from 83%) and privacy of treatment (94% from 93%).

The 10 most improved foundation trusts in the survey were: Portsmouth Hospitals, Guy’s & St Thomas’, Tameside Hospital, The Royal Marsden, Western Sussex Hospitals, East Kent University Hospitals, University Hospital Bristol, South Tyneside, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals and Medway.

“The information from this survey is vital to driving improvements on the ground for patients,” said National Cancer Director Professor Sir Mike Richards (pictured). “By seeing what areas they can improve upon, the local NHS can focus on the areas that matter most to patients.”

Macmillan Cancer Support and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) welcomed these findings, but emphasised the need for rarer cancers to be treated as effectively as more common types.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive, noted that the survey “recognises the important contribution that specialist nurses make to patients with cancer”