Cancer care at trust rated higher than average

Patients rated the cancer care nine out of 10, the survey said

A hospital in Devon has been rated higher than average in a national cancer survey.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said patients rated its cancer care nine out of 10 in the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.

The trust runs the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Northern Devon District Hospital.

It said 95% of respondents to the survey said staff provided them with the relevant information on the support available, 93% said the care team worked well together and 92% said the administration of care was good or very good.

'Very pleasing'

The survey found 88% of respondents said they were told they could return for more information about their diagnosis, while 86% said diagnostic test staff appeared to have all the information they needed about the patient.

Out of 2,067 patients surveyed 1,249 patients responded.

The trust said the results were very pleasing and demonstrated a high quality of care towards patients.

It said the results took the level of patient satisfaction back to its rating before the start of the pandemic.

However, the trust said it had lower scores in two areas - including patients having confidence in all of the team during their hospital stay and patients always being able to discuss worries and fears with staff.

The trust said it would work closely with its teams to understand how it could improve in those two areas.