More than 1,500 patients who received cancer care at Newcastle Hospitals rated their overall experience 9.02 out of 10 in the 2025 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, placing the trust joint 36th out of 128 NHS trusts nationally. The result is an improvement on last year, when the trust was joint 49th with a score of 9.00 out of 10.
Cancer teams performed above the expected range in 17 measures and below the expected range in just one, demonstrating consistently high standards of cancer care across the patient pathway.
Patients particularly valued communication, personalised care planning, involvement in decision-making and support from staff throughout their treatment journey.
Patients reported particularly positive experiences in the following areas:
- 96% of patients said a member of their care team helped them create a care plan to address their needs or concerns.
- 92% said they received enough understandable information before surgery.
- 83% said they were involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their treatment.
- 83% said they were able to discuss worries and fears with staff while receiving outpatient treatment.
- 82% said diagnostic test results were explained in a way they could completely understand.
Newcastle Hospitals also performed significantly better than expected in several important areas, including communication about diagnosis and treatment, shared decision-making, support for managing side effects, care planning and information about cancer recurrence.
Improvements were seen in five areas between 2021 and 2025. These included greater involvement of family members and carers in diagnosis and treatment decisions, improved experiences of waiting times for treatment, better practical advice on managing immediate side effects, and improved information for carers supporting patients at home.
The only area that scored below the expected range related to information provided about hormone therapy before treatment.
Gail Jones, trust cancer lead at Newcastle Hospitals, said: “We would like to thank all the patients and carers who responded to this survey. This feedback helps us understand how we can best meet people’s needs whilst they are being treated for, or living with, cancer.
“It is very encouraging to see the improvements made since the previous survey was published. These achievements reflect the dedication of our staff and the strong partnerships we have with local organisations, including those working in the voluntary sector, who play an important role in enhancing the care and support we offer patients throughout their cancer journey.
“Whilst we have seen significant improvements this year, we remain absolutely focused on ensuring all patients receive the best possible experience at what can be an incredibly difficult time in their lives. Particular areas of focus will be improving patient information about treatment options and plans, as well as ensuring patients have clear access to advice and support on financial and practical issues following their diagnosis.” The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey has run annually since 2010 and helps NHS organisations identify good practice and areas where care can be improved.
