Published on 21 July 2025
Patient experience remains a cornerstone of NHS care, and the latest results from the 2024 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) highlight the exceptional standards being delivered across Cheshire and Merseyside.
The annual survey, conducted by NHS England and NHS Improvement, captures the voices of thousands of cancer patients across the country. It explores key aspects of care, including how and when patients were diagnosed, their involvement in treatment decisions, the clarity of information provided, and the support received from NHS and social services.
This year’s survey, which gathered responses from over 64,000 patients, revealed that those in Cheshire and Merseyside rated their overall care at 9.03 out of 10, surpassing the national average of 8.9.
The region also demonstrated significant year-on-year improvements:
- 69% of patients said their referral for diagnosis was clearly explained, up from 64% in 2023.
- 97% found advice from their main contact person helpful, compared to 95% last year.
- 84% felt fully involved in decisions about their treatment, rising from 80% in 2023.
In 2023, Cheshire and Merseyside scored below the expected range in one area: only 63% of patients reported being offered information about financial help or benefits (England average: 70%). Encouragingly, this figure rose to 69% in 2024, and no questions in this year’s survey fell below the expected range.
Cancer alliances and NHS trusts across the country are now analysing the results in detail to identify further opportunities for improvement. The survey continues to be a vital tool in shaping patient-centred cancer services and ensuring that every individual receives the highest standard of care.
Ellie Gunner-Taylor, Health Inequalities and Patient Experience Officer at Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA), said: “We are incredibly grateful to every patient who took the time to complete the survey. Their feedback is vital in helping us understand what matters most to people receiving cancer care. Listening to their experiences allows us to make meaningful improvements across the cancer pathway and ensure services are truly patient-centred.”
One example of how CMCA is using the survey results to drive improvement is through a recent project within the NHS Cancer Improvement Collaborative.
Ellie said: “When embarking on a project it is vital that patient voice guides the journey from start to finish. A project to improve administration of cancer care took place within Cheshire and Merseyside this year, as part of the Cancer Improvement Collaborative. This involved recruiting patient representatives to join our project team, and hosting a staff and patient feedback event. However, we first analysed the CPES results to gain a greater understanding of the fundamentals of patient experience and use these results to baseline any further work.”
For more information and to view the full set of results, visit: https://www.ncpes.co.uk/