Cancer services within Lancashire and South Cumbria have been rated highly by local adults in the 2021 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.

Carried out by Picker on behalf of NHS England, the survey of 134 NHS Trusts monitors national progress on cancer care as well as providing information to drive quality improvements to support cancer patients.

More than 2,000 people with a confirmed primary diagnosis of cancer, who received cancer-related treatment between April and June 2021, gave feedback on the care provided by the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria. This was a 53 per cent response rate, slightly lower than the national average of 55 per cent. The majority of respondents were from the 65-74 age group (367) and the breast tumour group provided the largest number of respondents with 486. 

Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance was rated at 9/10 for overall NHS care - just above the national average of 8.9/10.

Feedback from patients highlighted that they had enough understandable information about their treatment for immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy with all rating higher than expected and above the national average.

Dr Neil Smith, cancer director for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria, said: “The experiences of our patients and the care they receive is important to us and it’s credit to the hard work and commitment of health professionals in our region that their safe, dedicated and high-quality care has been reflected in these survey results. We will use the insights from the 2021 Cancer Patient Experience Survey to ensure we continue to improve services and always provide the highest level of care for patients.”

The results of the national survey showed that Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance scored above the national average in many areas with:

• 88 per cent of patients had enough understandable information about immunotherapy beforehand
• 95 per cent said enough privacy was always given to the patient when receiving diagnostic test results
• 91 per cent of patients said the whole care team worked well together
• 96 per cent of patients said the advice from the main contact person was very or quite helpful

The full report for Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance is available on the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey website at: www.ncpes.co.uk/2021-alliance-results

A full set of results is available at: www.ncpes.co.uk/current-results