Picker awarded multi-year contract for major NHS cancer survey

International healthcare charity Picker has been awarded a multi-year contract to carry out the NHS England & Improvement National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES).

The survey is an integral part of the national NHS Cancer Programme, which prioritises patient experience with clinical effectiveness and safety as a key strategic priority.

Data was first collected in 2010 and has been published each year since 2012. Picker will produce a National report, ICS level reports, trust reports and Cancer Alliance reports for the next three years.

Picker will also facilitate national workshops after each survey is published to promote a better understanding of data by sharing findings and encouraging good practice. Findings from previous surveys have underlined good and poorer aspects of care and have prompted hospitals and other care providers to implement changes to improve patient experiences.

Chris Graham, Picker CEO, said:

“We’re pleased to continue our valuable work delivering the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey for the next three years.

“It is an important survey and the findings will help ensure NHS Trusts across England have the insights they need to help them further improve cancer patients’ experiences of the health and person centred care they receive.

“In the next three years, we also want to improve the representation from those who are less likely to submit a questionnaire response. By increasing participation from underrepresented groups, we’ll be able to develop a greater understanding of differences between various groups. We will also break down information into specifically defined subgroups for national and local reporting purposes.”

The NCPES is a survey covering all NHS Trusts in England which provide adult cancer services. Surveys are completed through the autumn and winter months, with results published in spring or early summer as an official statistic. It can be completed either via post or electronically online and is available in 20 different languages.

Clare Enston, Deputy Director – Insight & Feedback, NHS England and NHS Improvement, commented:

“The National Cancer Patient Experience survey is a vital part of understanding how people are experiencing cancer care and treatment. It helps the NHS to identify what’s working well and where things can be improved, and increasingly gives us the chance to understand this in patients’ own words. Their feedback enables us to see inequalities in experience so that healthcare providers can design services that work for everyone. We are pleased to be able to continue the partnership with Picker on this important survey.”

Notes for Editors

• Picker is an international charity working across health and social care. We believe in high quality person centred care for all and promote this by measuring and encouraging the use of staff and patient feedback.
• If you have any other media enquiries, please contact the Communications Manager at Picker, Emma Newton – emma.newton@pickereurope.ac.uk, or Greig Box Turnbull at Fortitude Communications – gbt@fortitudecommunications.com.