Annual survey of patients reveals excellent satisfaction rate

Patients' experience of cancer care across the region's four hospital trusts has been rated 9 out of 10 in the latest annual survey published this month.

The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) seeks the views of eligible adult patients over the age of 16 about their care and treatment between April and June of the same year.

The findings are then analysed by the trusts and used to help improve the quality of NHS cancer services.

The CPES is conducted every year by Picker, on behalf of NHS England.

The survey asks a variety of questions to understand people’s experience of care, including how involved patients felt in decisions about their care, whether the information they were given was easy to understand, and whether they felt they had enough support from staff.

The 2024 CPES was sent to 3,047 eligible patients in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and was completed by 1,441 patients resulting in a 47% response rate.

Patients rated the overall experience of care within SYB hospital trusts as 9 out of 10.

SYB Cancer Alliance Managing Director Julia Jessop said: "We welcome the survey every year because it's an opportunity for people to give their honest opinions of their care and treatment which we can then look at and learn from. Patients' responses are important to help us identify what's working well and where there might be gaps and areas to improve on. We're pleased at the high rate of very positive comments."

Some of those comments include:

"I was really well looked after from going to my first GP appointment to the end of my treatment. They were all fantastic." (Barnsley Hospital patient)

"I had a swift diagnosis and treatment soon followed. The consultant was very informative and the specialist nurse was always readily available." (Doncaster & Bassetlaw Trust patient)

"Rotherham Hospital and my GP practice have provided excellent care and made me feel confident throughout my surgery and treatment." (Rotherham Hospital patient)

"I had a magnificent team looking after me. The information given, my hospital stay, after care and follow-up appointments filled me with confidence and I sailed happily and safely through all my treatments." (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals patient)

The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance-area CPES results can be seen here

For more information about the CPES and to see all the national results, please visit www.ncpes.co.uk