Picker responds to the National Cancer Plan

Commenting on the publication of the National Cancer Plan, Chris Graham, Group CEO at Picker, said:

“We know from the results of the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) and the Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey (U16 CPES) that people are generally positive about the quality of NHS cancer care – but also that there are areas where improvement is needed to make cancer care more person centred.

“It is, therefore, very welcome to see an ambitious National Cancer Plan that prioritises improving the quality of life for people living with cancer and tackling health inequalities, alongside a commitment to ensuring the Cancer Waiting Time standards are met by the end of this Parliament. These are important issues for patients and the public and it is right that they are emphasised.

“In our response to the National Cancer Plan’s call for evidence, we raised patient concerns about the timeliness of referrals and diagnostic testing, holistic support within the community, and poor hospital facilities. We are particularly pleased to see that every patient will receive a personalised needs assessment and cancer plan, alongside a named neighbourhood care lead. If these initiatives are implemented well, they should lead to meaningful improvements in patients’ experiences.

“The plan is also explicit in its aim to make patient power a ‘golden thread’ – also a commitment in the Ten Year Plan published last summer. To grasp these threads across the multiple plans that have been laid out to make the NHS ‘fit for the future’, however, it is essential that the proposed Director of Patient Experience is appointed as soon as possible; that their remit is clarified through engagement with stakeholders, patients, and service users; and that the role and directorate have sufficient authority to truly make the patient king.”