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Patients rate cancer care nine out of 10 at the West Suffolk
The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) has scored highly in the 2023 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, with patients rating the Trust’s cancer care nine out of 10.
The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey aims to understand the experiences of patients that have received cancer care across England, capturing their perspectives, and monitoring how services are progressing at the local, regional, and national level.
The latest set of results highlight that the Trust scored in the upper end of the expected range for the majority of survey questions, with none scoring below the expected range compared to other trusts.
Of the 50 questions asked, 10 of these scored above the expected range for WSFT, including:
- ‘Patient was always treated with respect and dignity in hospital’ (95% agreed, compared to the national score of 87%)
- ‘Administration of care was very good or good’ (92% agreed, compared to the national score of 87%).
- ‘Cancer diagnosis explained in a way the patient could completely understand’ (81% agreed, compared to national score of 77%
- ‘During treatment, patient definitely got enough care and support at home from community or voluntary services’ (72% agreed, compared to the national score of 52%)
One area that has seen significant improvement is that 76% of patients agreed that they were ‘able to discuss worries or fears with hospital staff’, which rose from the score of 59% in 2022, and is higher than the national average of 65%.
Madeline Friday, oncology survivorship lead for the Trust, said: “Post-covid, we have worked hard to make sure there are opportunities for patients to discuss their concerns. More team members are now available to support patients, and information about other cancer services such as psychological and emotional support is being promoted widely across the Trust.”
When answering the survey, one patient said: “Chemotherapy nurses were extremely helpful and caring, if you had a concern, they would always do their best to address it. My treatment received is particularly good and no delays.”
Another patient said: “I am not at all sure it could have been better; the care I received was exemplary and thoroughly admirable.”
Although WSFT had no scores below the expected range, areas for improvement include ‘Cancer research opportunities were discussed with the patient’.
Sam Dhungana, lead manager for cancer services, said: “As we are a small hospital Trust, we unfortunately don’t have a dedicated cancer trials unit. However, we do have a number of cancer clinical trials open here for our patients, and our Oncology teams also have good links to research programmes at nearby locations such as Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge. There is an active research committee at the Trust to ensure that patients who qualify and are willing have access to appropriate trials”.
A further area for improvement that the Trust has been focused on relates to ‘After treatment, the patient definitely could get enough emotional support at home from community or voluntary services’. Alongside its partners within the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System and West Suffolk Alliance, particularly those is social care and the charitable sector, it is developing the wraparound care post-treatment that patients receive.
Dr Ewen Cameron, chief executive for the WSFT, said: “Cancer is a disease that affects so many in our communities, and unfortunately it will affect most of us at some point in our lives, either directly or through friends and family. Therefore, it is incredibly important that we provide not just high quality healthcare, but that we deliver this in a way that makes treatment as bearable as possible.
“These results show that we don’t just focus on the outcomes but consider the full patient experience as well. Congratulations to the team, who work incredibly hard, as this is very well deserved.”
The cancer care team at the Trust are continually working to improve the experience of cancer patients, with many projects underway, including creating videos to make information more easily understandable. These focus on topics such as introducing patients to the unit to reduce confusion and anxiety, and explaining what happens during chemotherapy. The team are also working to trial a ‘buddy system’, which will see volunteers support cancer patients who have come into hospital alone.
The Trust also collects feedback through its cancer patient forums, one of which was held in Bury St Edmunds on Friday, 1 November. One attendee, who themselves received cancer treatment at WSFT, said: “I was incredibly happy with all of my treatment. The communication with the surgeon and the specialist nurses was clear and kind and they were very approachable.”
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