Cancer Reform Strategy - First Annual Report - Merseyside ...

CHAPTER 5: lIVINg WITH AND BEyoND CANCER37Box 11: Sussex Cancer Network (SCN) Patient Experience Surveys 2008The SCN Partnership group has developed four surveys building on the National Patient Survey(1997) to enable multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and tumour groups to receive feedback frompatients about their experience. As a result of the reports, the MDTs identify any changes whichneed to be made and are implementing those changes. The results are discussed in each of thetumour group to enable sharing of best practice. The surveys carried out in 2007/08 reviewedthe experience of patients from gP referral to diagnosis.To date 352 urology, haematology, head and neck, colorectal and breast patients haveresponded to the survey. overall, the feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positiveand has been a great endorsement of the multi-disciplinary collaboration in the MDTs.These endorsements included:• over 80% of patients receiving sufficient information about their investigations, diagnosis,treatment options and treatment• over 94% of patients feeling they had been listened to, treated in a friendly and courteousmanner, enabled to discuss any fears and worries and told their diagnosis in a sensitive wayby the MDT doctors and nurses• over 92% of patients stated that overall the quality of the care they received was good.There were some consistent shortfalls in the standards expected, such as:• between 37% and 51% of patients referred under the 2-week wait system stated that theirgP had not warned them that they were being referred to rule out or confirm a possiblecancer diagnosis• lack of generic information such as finances, diet, complementary therapies, psychologicalsupport, body image, support groups and family history risks• less than half of patients being offered a “permanent record of significant consultations”or being advised to bring someone with them when they were told their diagnosis.