National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2010

Quality Health is undertaking the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health. The survey covers approximately 110,000 NHS patients who have been seen for treatment in hospital in the period January-March 2010 and who have had a diagnosis of cancer. Send out of the survey to patients started on Wednesday 16th June.

158 hospital Trusts in England are taking part in the survey, and this section of the website contains important national documentation on the survey. Here you can find: a copy of the finalised questionnaire being sent to patients; and the full National Guidance for the survey.

The questionnaire, methodology and supporting material such as covering letters to patients have been extensively discussed at national level and they have been formally agreed by the Department. The work has been supervised by a national Cancer Patients Experience Advisory Group chaired jointly by Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE and Professor Jessica Corner of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) published in 2007 set out a commitment to establish a new NHS Cancer Patient Experience Survey programme to monitor national progress and to use the findings to drive quality improvements locally. This is in line with the Next Stage Review (Darzi, 2008) which states that patient experience should be one of the three guiding principles of the NHS. The survey will gather vital information on the Transforming Inpatient Care Programme, the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative and the National Cancer Equality Initiatives.

Furthermore, The Coalition: our programme for government, published by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in May 2010 refers in Sections 22 to enabling patients to rate hospitals and doctors according to the quality of care they receive; publishing detailed data about the performance of healthcare providers online; and putting patients in charge of making decisions about their care.  In future, Trusts will be required by law to include patient experience measures in their Quality Accounts and their income will be linked to it.

The survey is identified as a priority within the NHS Operating Framework 2010/11, which states in section 2.24: “The National Cancer Patients’ Experience Survey will take place in 2010/11, and commissioners will wish to encourage their Trusts to take part so they can use the findings to consider how services can continue to improve”.

The survey fieldwork period will take place between June and September, with a national Report being submitted to the Department of Health in the Autumn. Further detailed reports will be provided to participating Trusts, to Cancer Networks, and to Primary Care Trusts in their capacity as Commissioners of NHS services.

The national cancer survey helpline is available to patients and families on 0800 783 1775, and colleagues in NHS Trusts and the NHS generally can obtain further information on the survey from Kerry Hibberd, Business Manager, on 01246 856263.

You may download PDF versions of the Guidance documentation and Questionnaire by clicking the links below:.

National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2010 Guidance Document

National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2010 Questionnaire