People treated for cancer in Wales in 2020 are being asked to share their experiences during the pandemic year to shape future cancer care.
From Thursday 21 October, around 11,000 people who were treated for cancer in Wales in 2020 will be asked to share their views in the latest Wales Cancer Patient Experience Survey.
The survey’s results will help to shape future cancer care in Wales including pinpointing what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Wales Cancer Network, and carried out by Quality Health, the survey will ask people about many aspects of their care from how they were diagnosed to the care they had when their treatment ended.
Those asked to take part can complete the survey in English or in Welsh and can complete it on paper or online using details on their invitation letter.
Sarah Marshall from Llangollen, who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in autumn 2019, is encouraging people to take part.
Mother-of-two Sarah said: “If you have received cancer treatment and want to contribute to improving services then completing the survey is a great way to get your opinions across.
“As patients we have a unique perspective that can help the professionals understand what really works for us, and what doesn’t, and we don’t always get the time to have that conversation in a medical environment.”
Phil Jones from Wrexham, who was treated for prostate cancer in 2019 and is a secretary to the Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group, is also encouraging people who are invited to do the survey to take part.
The retired IT professional, who has a MBE for his community work and initiatives to raise more than £6.5m for charities, said: “The support from Macmillan in terms of cancer care over a long passage of time has been unrelenting and they are always at the forefront in terms of engaging with cancer patients.
“I must applaud their latest initiative which is to launch a survey is specifically focused on the cancer patient experience.
“Across the last three decades working in industry, I have enjoyed the benefits of capturing the output from many surveys and rest assured, I have never ceased to be amazed how powerful this data is.”
Richard Pugh, Head of Partnerships for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said: “The Wales Cancer Patient Experience Survey gives people treated for cancer in Wales last year the chance to share what is working well and where improvements are needed.
“The survey will be sent to people treated for cancer in Wales when our NHS faced the coronavirus pandemic so I would invite them to take part if they can so we can understand their experiences.”
Claire Birchall, Wales Cancer Network Manager said: “Understanding the experiences of patients is always an essential factor in planning and improving cancer services, and is as important an outcome measure as survival and quality of life.
“The rapid changes we needed to make in response to the pandemic, however, means that the perspectives of patients who were diagnosed and treated over the last year are particularly important as we evaluate the effectiveness of the measures we took, and also understand the impact of the pandemic on cancer patient’s experiences at such a challenging time.
“I urge everyone who receives the survey to complete it so we can gather this vital information.”