Cancer patients asked about their experience of care

The Welsh Government is asking people who have had treatment for cancer on the Welsh NHS to share what they think of the care they received.

The survey will begin to land on the doormats of 11,000 cancer patients next week, and will ask them to rate the care they received. The results, which will be released in spring 2017, will be used to improve the care cancer patients in Wales receive.

This is the second Cancer Patient Experience Survey carried out by the Welsh Government and Macmillan Cancer Support. The 2013 survey showed 89% of patients surveyed rated their care as excellent or very good, while it also highlighted areas for improvement. One such area was the need to deliver more person-centred care, which led to a greater focus on key workers such as cancer nurse specialists, holistic needs assessments and better care planning.

The survey is being launched at the Macmillan stand on the first day of the Royal Welsh Show and will be attended by Lesley Griffiths, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs.

Speaking ahead of the launch, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Vaughan Gething, said:

“Hearing about the real life experiences of people who have been treated for cancer allows us to get a very honest and truthful reflection of care standards in the NHS. Patients’ observations and experiences provide us with a real insight into the needs of people with cancer and the survey asks whether such needs are being fully met by our health service.

“As well as indicating where improvements can be made, the survey also highlights areas of best practice which can be shared across the organisation and used to raise standards across the board.

“I therefore urge all eligible patients to who receive the survey to take part, either via post or online, and tell us about their own personal experience of the care they received while being treated for cancer.”

Susan Morris, Head of Services for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said:

“Macmillan is pleased to be carrying out the second Wales Cancer Patient Experience in partnership with the Welsh Government to ask around 11,000 people treated for cancer in Wales last year what they think about their care.

“We are delighted the Cabinet Secretary is launching the survey at our bus at the Royal Welsh Show as it is an important opportunity for people to have their say about every part of their cancer care.

“The last survey’s results helped the government, the NHS and organisations like Macmillan to get a deeper understanding of patients’ views about what is working well in cancer care and where improvements are needed.”