Patients rate Queen Victoria Hospital for cancer care

The latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey shows that patients rate highly the cancer care they receive at Queen Victoria Hospital.

The survey undertaken by Quality Health on behalf of NHS England is designed to monitor national progress on cancer care and to provide information to drive quality improvements to support cancer patients.

The hospital is the South East’s specialist surgical centre for skin cancer, head and neck cancer, and provides microvascular reconstruction services for breast cancer patients following, or in association with, mastectomy. It also has links with the operational delivery network for cancer and trauma care covering Kent, Surrey, and Sussex.

The results of the national survey showed the average patient rating for their care was 8.9 out of 10 with:

• 80% of patients definitely involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their care and treatment
• 86% saying they were given the name of a clinical nurse specialist who would support them through their treatment
• 91% saying they were always treated with dignity and respect while they were in hospital
• 99% saying that hospital staff told them who to contact if they were worried about their condition or treatment after they left hospital.

Patients and their families also benefit from the dedicated team at the Macmillan information and support centre on site in East Grinstead.

Jo Thomas, Director of Nursing and Quality at Queen Victoria Hospital, said: “We always strive to provide the best possible treatment and care for our patients so we are pleased our patients have scored us highly in the latest cancer patient experience survey. This is a testament to the professionalism, commitment and compassion of our staff. This survey will also help us to find ways to continually improve what we do.”

In addition to excellent patient care, Queen Victoria Hospital continues to deliver strong clinical outcomes for patients. Survival rates for people treated at the hospital for major head and neck cancers are above the national benchmark. Queen Victoria Hospital also has an excellent record of complete removal of malignant melanomas and skin cancers; a complete excision rate of 89.2% which is well above the 75% national average.

For more information please contact the QVH Press Office on 01342 414508.

Pictured: Breast reconstruction specialists Pam Golton and Rebecca Spencer who form part of the cancer team at Queen Victoria Hospital