A major new study analysing cancer care throughout Wales has been welcomed by Wrexham Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths.
The first national Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) captured the views of more than 7,000 patients and the results have been published by Macmillan Cancer Support.
The robust and comprehensive analysis of people’s experiences of cancer care in Wales was overall positive, with 89% of people surveyed rating their care as either excellent (58%) or very good (31%) and only 1% stating their care was poor.
In North Wales, over 1,700 patients responded from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and in many areas of the study, the Health Board scored statistically significantly higher than the national average.
The Welsh Government’s Cancer Delivery Plan, published in 2012, contained a commitment that it would work with Macmillan to carry out an all-Wales cancer patient experience survey. The CPES measures the experience of patients from diagnosis throughout their cancer treatment and across a wide range of aspects of care.
Macmillan believe high quality experience of care is valued as immensely important by patients and needs to be prioritised alongside achieving high quality clinical outcomes and waiting time targets. Their research suggests, at its worst, bad patient experience can impact on a person’s health, be related to poor recovery and cost the NHS money.
Lesley Griffiths, AM for Wrexham commented:
“It goes without saying, all cancer patients should be treated with dignity, kindness and compassion throughout their cancer treatment. It is vital the Welsh Government does all it can to help Local Health Boards achieve their goals and targets and this survey demonstrates their Cancer Delivery Plan is being implemented.”
“The results of this first CPES provide a clear indication that overall cancer care experience in Wales is positive.”
“However, despite the encouraging responses, there is always room for development and the survey has set high standards for further improvements to be achieved in the future.”
