National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2023

The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) is an important part of the national NHS Cancer Programme, which places patient experience on a par with clinical effectiveness and safety as a key strategic priority. It has been designed to monitor national progress on cancer care, to drive local quality improvements, to assist commissioners and providers of cancer care and to inform the work of the various charities and stakeholder groups supporting cancer patients.

The 2023 survey is due to open to patients across the country at the beginning of April and will remain open until June. Any adult patients (aged 16 and over) who receive cancer treatment during that time will be eligible to take part in the survey – this includes patients who received a primary diagnosis of cancer, who have been admitted to the hospital as an inpatient for cancer treatment or who were seen as a day case outpatient.

Eligible patients will be contacted by Picker (the national survey provider) on behalf of NHS England and asked to participate. It is possible to opt out of completing the survey either by contacting the hospital in advance or replying to the invitation received via Picker.

The importance of completing the survey

Patient experience is hugely important to us and your feedback enables us to continually improve the service that we deliver. As well as identifying the areas of improvement, the results further allow us to understand the things that we are doing well so that we can continue to build on that success into the future.

Your participation in the survey, which involves answering up to 59 questions and should take no more than 15 minutes to complete, is hugely appreciated and all feedback will be reviewing to create a comprehensive action plan to shape the future of cancer services at MKUH.

Your feedback from 2021:

The latest results from the survey were from 2021 (2022 reports are still be finalised) and almost 350 patients who received cancer-related care at MKUH participated. We are proud to say that MKUH came in the upper quartile of the country with an overall rating of 8.9 out of 10 for patient experience.

However, your feedback identified several areas of improvement which we have been working hard to address. This includes:

  • Improving the way in which diagnostic test results are explained – the team are undertaking different communication training course to provide better support for patients.
  • Increasing opportunities for patients to be involved directly in their care by improving access to their care plans – the trust is working on different IT apps to enable patient access to clinical information.
  • Providing more and increasing the accessibility of patient information in the Cancer Centre – This is supported by increasing the number of volunteers available to and access to leaflets, banners on display and regularly updated.
  • Offering access to financial help and support for patients and families affected by cancer – Citizen’s advice bureau is on-site once per week to support patients.

Posters and leaflets will be on display around the Cancer Centre from April to provide further details. For more information about the survey, please speak to a member of our team, contact [email protected] or visit www.ncpes.co.uk

If you do need any support with your wellbeing or any further information regarding cancer support, please contact [email protected]