ACCORDING to this year’s Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES)1 for England released earlier this month, it seems cancer patients in Wiltshire are having a good overall experience of care even though there are still concerns.

For example, Macmillan estimates that, among those who felt they needed it, a staggering 46% of cancer patients in the South West say that they didn’t receive adequate information about the potential long-term side effects as a result of their cancer treatment. So patients may be unaware of debilitating side effects such as heart conditions, incontinence or infertility and as such are unlikely to have guidance on where to get support.

Although 46% of cancer patients in the South West say that they didn’t always find someone on the hospital staff to talk to if they had worries and fears. 94% say that they were told who to contact after leaving the hospital if they have worries about their condition. Everyone with cancer has different needs: some people may require support with long-term side effects, others with mental health issues or money worries. Macmillan has been working on helping ensure that no one faces cancer alone and it is vital that cancer patients have a good experience of care from the moment they experience symptoms, through treatment and for as long as they need afterwards.

We understand that sustainable change in the healthcare system takes time so we will continue to work with patients in the South West as well as with our NHS Trusts and hospitals, local authorities and surgeries to improve patient experience. There are many success stories but even more work needs to be done. The Cancer Patient Experience Survey is an Official Statistic for the first time so we hope that this new data and information will serve as one more way to improve even more.

LEE HODGSON, Head of Services for the South West at Macmillan Cancer Support