Picker’s response to ‘shaping the national cancer plan’

Picker submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care’s call for evidence that will inform the development of the national cancer plan.

Our submission utilises the latest data from the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) and the Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey (U16 CPES).

Our key messages were:

• Patients, their families and carers would like to see timelier and more effective referrals from primary to secondary care, and for diagnostic testing as part of cancer pathways.

• Based on responses to the NCPES and U16 CPES surveys – particularly the qualitative analysis that identifies concerns about waiting times and communications as key themes – our view is that increased treatment capacity alongside improvement to treatment spaces and wards, and improved communication with patients, would have the most impact in improving access to cancer treatment and services.

• Patient experience is particularly poor related to the emotional support offered at home by community or voluntary services, with less than one in three (32.3%) saying they ‘definitely’ could get enough support.

• Survey findings demonstrate the need for more comprehensive support after diagnosis and treatment, as well as a focus on emotional support, both for patients and their families and carers.

• NCPES subgroup analysis highlights that younger patients (aged between 25-34) were less happy with their care experience compared to older age groups, as were women and non-binary respondents, those whose gender is not the same as sex registered at birth, or bisexual respondents. Patients with mental health conditions, a learning disability, or autism were also less happy with their experience of care. White respondents reported better experiences of care compared to black, Asian, and respondents who identify as ‘mixed’ and ‘other’.

• Improving patient experience and access to cancer treatment, alongside interventions to prevent and reduce the risk of cancer, should be prioritised in the national cancer plan. Large-scale national patient experience surveys, commissioned by NHS England and delivered by Picker, already provide robust evidence as to where patients feel there is room for improvement in cancer care, as well as where they think person centred care is already being delivered.

• Plans to improve access and care quality, as well as patient experience, must be co-designed with diverse patient voices. Previous winners and finalists at the Picker Experience Network Awards provide examples of good practice in delivering person centred cancer care.

You can read the full submission here.