Positive rating for hospital by cancer patients

Kettering General Hospital has received a positive overall rating in a new national Cancer Patient Experience Survey.

The survey included all adult patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer who were admitted to KGH as an inpatient or day case patient and had been discharged between September 1 and November 30 last year.

Questionnaires were sent to 435 patients’ home addresses following their discharge and 277 were completed.

The questionnaire contained 63 questions (more questions were asked but these were the ones applicable to KGH and hence it was scored out of 63) and people’s responses were graded as green (top 20% of trusts in England), amber (middle 60% of trusts in England) or red (bottom 20% of trusts in England).

KGH scored

• Green (top 20% of trusts)  – 11 areas
• Amber (middle 60% of trusts – 47 areas
• Red (bottom 20% of trusts) – 5 areas

The areas where Kettering General Hospital was in the top 20% of trusts were:

1. Patient thought they were seen as soon as necessary (87%)
2. Patient’s health got better or remained about the same while waiting (84%)
3. Patient found it easy to contact their clinical nurse specialist (81%)
4. Hospital staff told patients they could get free prescriptions (85%)
5. Patient never thought they were given conflicting information (85%)
6. All staff asked patient what name they preferred to be called by (76%)
7. Always given enough privacy when being examined or treated (97%)
8. Always treated with respect and dignity by staff (89%)
9. Family definitely given all information needed to help care at home (65%)
10. Staff definitely did everything to control side effects of chemotherapy (86%)
11. Saw GP once/twice before told had to go to hospital (81%)

The trust was scored as about the same as other trusts in most areas of cancer care and treatment with 43 questions rated in the middle 60% of scores.

The trust was only statistically in the lowest 20% of trusts for five of the 63 questions. These were:

1. Hospital staff gave information about support groups – 79% of patients said we did this (to be in the middle 60% of Trusts the score needed to be above 80%)
2. Taking part in cancer research discussed with patient – 11% of patients said this was raised with them (middle amber score was above 21%)
3. Got understandable answers to important questions all/most of the time – 77% of KGH patients said we did (note 80% was the threshold for amber and 86% for green)
4. Doctor had the right notes and other documentation with them – 94% of patients said they did (scores above 95% achieved the amber majority of Trusts – scores above 98% were top 20% in England)
5. Patients rating of care as excellent or very good – 85% of patients rated care this well. Twenty per cent of Trusts received scores lower than 86%. For the top 20% of Trusts the score was above 92%.

KGH’s clinical lead for cancer services, Matthew Lyttelton, said: “The trust is strongly committed to delivering excellence in all aspects of care for patients with cancer and to ensuring that the patient experience is made as supportive as possible.

“We are pleased to see that the trust is rated among the best in a number of the areas considered and has received a positive overall rating. The high quality of the service provided has been recognised in areas such as speed of access, support from cancer nurse specialists, respect for privacy and dignity and support for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

“The trust is determined to continue to improve in those areas where the rating is significantly below average. The trust already has an active team supporting national clinical research and trials for cancer patients, with an ongoing commitment to expand and develop the research portfolio.

“The trust recognises the need to highlight with all patients the role of clinical trials in the treatment of cancer, even though appropriate national trials are not applicable for many patients. The trust routinely provides information regarding national patient support groups and is keen, together with the patients, to develop more local groups as well.

“The trust is also pursuing a number of developments that will further improve patient experience and care. A Macmillan funded service supporting emergency patients with cancer was established in May 2014. Further cancer nurse specialist appointments are also planned in areas such as head and neck cancer. More rapid diagnosis will be enabled with the introduction of a second MRI scanner in late 2014 and of an endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsy service (EBUS) for the diagnosis of lung cancer. The trust is also involved in a programme of developing more integrated cancer treatments across Northamptonshire and Leicester which will ensure the speediest access to the most modern treatments, including greater access to clinical trials.”