Patient experience surveys

Primary Care

By gathering and reviewing the results of patient surveys, we gain valuable insights into the needs of our population across North East & North Cumbria. This evidence helps shape how we plan, develop, and transform cancer services – ensuring they are responsive, inclusive, and centred around what matters most to patients.

We use patient surveys to:

  • Understand the experiences and perspectives of people affected by cancer
  • Track progress across services and pathways of care
  • Drive improvements in the quality of care

The three important national surveys that help improve cancer care are:

  • The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES)
  • The Cancer Quality of Life Survey (QoL)
  • U16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey

To find out more information on the surveys including how to access the local report findings scroll down the page.

  • NCPES runs every year for three months.
  • The survey asks about satisfaction of care received across the whole care pathway – from referral to diagnosis to treatment and care.
  • Adult patients aged 16+ with a primary diagnosis of cancer, who have been admitted to hospital as inpatients for cancer related treatment, or who were seen as day case patients for cancer related treatment and have been discharged between April and June each year are invited to take part in the survey.
  • As well as a national report, reports are published by trust, Cancer Alliance and Integrated Care Board.
  • To learn more go to👉 NCPES website
  • To access reports and data go to 👉 Latest results and infographics

  • The Quality of Life Survey is a shorter, nationwide survey asking about overall emotional, physical and social wellbeing to find out how quality of life may have changed for people diagnosed with cancer.
  • Patients are invited to complete the survey around 18 months after diagnosis.
  • The survey seeks to understand about the longer-term impact that cancer can have on people.
  • To learn more go to 👉 the QoL Survey website
  • To access the data go to 👉 the Cancer Quality of Life Dashboard

  • The U16 CPES survey runs every year and aims to understand the experiences of cancer and tumour care among children and their parents/carers.
  • The questions ask about things like the hospital ward, the hospital staff and the treatment given.
  • The people who get a survey are chosen because they have a diagnosis of cancer and have recently been cared for or treated in certain NHS hospitals in England.
  • Some children who are 16 years old may also be sent a survey if they received care within the past year as a 15 year old.
  • There are three surveys for different age groups.
  • To learn more go to 👉 U16 Cancer Survey Experience website
  • To access the survey findings go to 👉 Interactive Dashboard

Other sources of patient experience data may come from:

  • NHS Trust/hospital level patient surveys
  • Mapping and insight undertaken by the Integrated Care Board
  • Service improvement activity at a local level
  • Other work programmes, e.g. Teenage & Young Adults, Learning Disability & Autism
  • Local, regional and national charities
  • Tumour specific surveys from charitable organisations: eg Prostate Cancer UK or Macmillan Cancer Support