Staff at a hospital trust have been praised in a survey on cancer care.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s (WSFT) cancer care was rated nine out of 10 in the 2023 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.
It seeks feedback from cancer patients aged 16 and over and 314 patients responded out of a total of 516, resulting in a response rate of 61 per cent, at the trust which runs West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket Community Hospital.
Staff from G1 and the acute oncology service at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Of the 50 questions asked, 10 scored above the expected range for WSFT, including 95 per cent agreeing that the ‘patient was always treated with respect and dignity in hospital’ compared to the national score of 87 per cent.
Dr Ewen Cameron, chief executive at WSFT, said: “These results show that we don’t just focus on the outcomes but consider the full patient experience as well. Congratulations to the team, who work incredibly hard, as this is very well deserved.”
An area with significant improvement saw 76 per cent of patients agree they were ‘able to discuss worries or fears with hospital staff’, which rose from a score of 59 per cent in 2022 and is higher than the national average of 65 per cent.
Staff from the Macmillan Day unit at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Madeline Friday, oncology survivorship lead for the trust, said: “Post-covid, we have worked hard to make sure there are opportunities for patients to discuss their concerns.
“More team members are now available to support patients and information about other cancer services such as psychological and emotional support is being promoted widely across the trust.”
When answering the survey, one patient said: “Chemotherapy nurses were extremely helpful and caring, if you had a concern, they would always do their best to address it. My treatment received is particularly good and no delays.”
Another patient said: “I am not at all sure it could have been better; the care I received was exemplary and thoroughly admirable.”
Although WSFT had no scores below the expected range, areas for improvement include ‘cancer research opportunities were discussed with the patient’.
Sam Dhungana, lead manager for cancer services, said as West Suffolk was a small hospital trust, it didn’t have a dedicated cancer trials unit.
“However, we do have a number of cancer clinical trials open here for our patients, and our oncology teams also have good links to research programmes at nearby locations such as Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge.
“There is an active research committee at the Trust to ensure that patients who qualify and are willing have access to appropriate trials.”
A further area for improvement the trust said it had focused on relates to ‘after treatment, the patient definitely could get enough emotional support at home from community or voluntary services’.
Alongside its partners within the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System and West Suffolk Alliance, particularly those in social care and the charitable sector, it is developing the wraparound care post-treatment that patients receive.
Other projects under way include creating videos to make information more easily understandable.
The team are working to trial a ‘buddy system’, which will see volunteers support cancer patients who have come into hospital alone.
The trust collects feedback through its cancer patient forums, one of which was held in Bury on November 1.
One attendee, who received cancer treatment at WSFT, said: “I was incredibly happy with all of my treatment.
“The communication with the surgeon and the specialist nurses was clear and kind and they were very approachable.”