[GB] National Cancer Patient Experience Survey

Full name of the series in original language

National Cancer Patient Experience Survey

Abstract

The National Cancer Patient Experience Surveys (NCPES) began in 2010, after the 2007 'Cancer Reform Strategy' set out a commitment to establish a new survey programme. The NCPES is intended to be a vehicle enabling and supporting quality improvement in the NHS and has been used by national bodies, NHS Hospitals, specialist cancer teams, and national and condition specific charities to improve services for patients. It is designed to monitor national progress on cancer care; to provide information that could be used to drive local quality improvements; and to help gather vital information on the Transforming Inpatient Care Programme, the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative and the National Cancer Equality Initiative.

An Advisory Group was set up for the NCPES with the National Cancer Director, professionals, voluntary sector representatives, academics and patient survey experts. The Group agreed on the following guiding principles and objectives:

• a standard national survey tool was to be used
• surveys would be conducted at Trust level and identify cancer groups
• the survey would cover all cancers and include the whole care pathway
• the survey should use the word 'cancer' unlike the 2000 and 2004 surveys
• the survey focus would be on patients (rather than carers)
• the data would be used for benchmarking performance across Trusts and by cancer groups where numbers allow
• the data would be used to inform national and local policy
• the data would be made publicly available whilst observing patient data protection requirements and maintaining confidentiality.

The data cover different stages of the patients' 'cancer journey', from diagnosis to outpatient treatment:

• initial GP visits before diagnosis (how many appointments, time period)
• diagnostic tests (understanding of these)
• how patients were told about the cancer diagnosis (understanding, sensitivity, written information)
• decisions on treatment (understanding, side effects explained, involvement in decision making, written information)
• whether patients were given a named key worker (Cancer Nurse Specialist provision and experience of them)
• support measures patients were informed about (information on support groups, financial help, free prescriptions)
• hospital doctors (understanding, confidence and trust in them, knowledge of patient case)
• ward nurses (understanding, confidence, availability)
• overall hospital care and treatment (information provision, privacy, knowledge of case, pain control, dignity and respect)
• information provided before going home (written information and understanding, information on care at home and health or social services provision)
• day patient experience (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, side effects, pain control, emotional support, appointment delay, time with doctor, doctor notes and case understanding)
• wider care experience (hospital and community staff working together, information transfer)
• demographic data
• information provided by the participating Trusts such as date of discharge, diagnosis etc.

The NCPES has been replicated in Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, parts of Australia, and the Middle East. Further information can be found here: https://www.ncpes.co.uk/

Geographic coverage

United Kingdom

Time method

Cross-section

Time period

2010 => 2014

Types of available microdata

Consistency type

Access mode

Update date

15/09/2021