North Mid tenth 'poorest' for cancer care, according to charity Macmillan (From Enfield Independent)

North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust tenth 'poorest' for cancer care, according to charity Macmillan

10:21am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News By Hermione Wright and David Hardiman

North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust is the tenth worst in the country for the experience of cancer patients, according to a charity’s analysis.

Charity Macmillan Cancer Support produced a table which measured patients’ responses to a survey after treatment.

It found North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, which comprises North Middlesex University Hospital in Sterling Way, Edmonton, to be the tenth poorest performing trust in the UK.

Nine out the bottom ten trusts were in London, with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust rated the worst, while most of the top performing trusts were in the north of England.

The charity’s chief executive, Ciarán Devane, accused hospitals of “letting down” cancer patients by “failing to provide an adequate level of care”.

He said: “Patient experience and non-clinical needs must be given as much priority as medical activities.

“Patient experience is one of the Government’s five key measures for success in the NHS, so Trusts need to take heed and work with Macmillan and others to urgently improve the care they offer cancer patients.”

The league table compares the performance of hospitals across England based on measures of patients’ experiences while being treated at hospital, such as whether their diagnosis and treatment options were explained clearly to them, whether they felt supported in their care, and whether they felt they were treated with respect.

The research also reveals that breast cancer patients in England have the best patient experience, while sarcoma patients continue to have the poorest.

A statement, released by North Middlesex University NHS Trust, said: "At the North Middlesex we want every person with a diagnosis of cancer to receive high quality care in an environment, and by clinicians, who respect their privacy and dignity at what is a most distressing time.

"We focus on a personal approach so that patients feel supported and cared for from diagnosis to treatment and afterwards.”

It added that the trust is working hard to increase the amount of individual information for each patient during their time in university and it is working with Macmillan to provide a permanent Cancer Information Centre to be accessed by all patients and their carers. 

The trust is refurbishing its oncology ward and chemotherapy day unit and next year will open an upgraded radioiodine treatment room for people suffering from thyroid cancer.