Latest results from the Under 16 Cancer Patients Experience Survey 2024

The Under 16 Patient Experience Survey (U16 CPES) 2024 is the fifth national survey measuring the experiences of children and young people receiving cancer and tumour care across England. 

The survey is part of the NHS Long Term Plan commitments to improve cancer care for children and young people. It has been developed in collaboration with patients, parents and carers, NHS staff, charities, and other experts to better understand experiences of care and identify opportunities for improvement. 

The 2024 survey was carried out by Picker Institute Europe on behalf of NHS England, capturing responses from children ages 8-15 and the parents and carers of children aged 0-16 who received NHS cancer care. 

See the full results here Technical reports | U16 Cancer Survey

Overview

The U16 CPES provides valuable insight into how children and their families experience cancer care in England. The survey helps to monitor progress, support service improvements, and guide national and local initiatives to ensure that all young cancer patients receive high quality, compassionate, and person- centred care. 

This year's results show that overall experiences of care remain positive, with most parents, carers, and children reporting high levels of satisfaction with the support and treatments they received. 

Key findings

Overall experience of care

• 78% of children aged 8-15 said they were looked after "very well" by healthcare staff.
• 91% of patients and carers rated their child's care 8 or more out of 10, up from 88% in 2023.  
• Parents and carers gave an average score of 9.10 out of 10 for overall experience of care. 

Positive experiences

Parents, carers, and children rated the following experiences most highly (90% or more) 

• 97% of families said staff provided clear information on who to contact for more details after diagnosis.
• 94% felt the nurses visiting home or school were always friendly.
• 91% said they and their child were treated with respect and dignity by staff.
• 90% confirmed there was a main contact in the care team they could reach out to when needed. 

Using the results

The survey findings help the NHS Cancer Programme and local alliances to identify where improvements can be made. Insights from the U16 CPES feed directly into the Cancer Experience of Care Improvements Collaborative (CIC) - a national framework that supports trusts to co design changes with patients and families. 

These insights also inform the work of Principal Treatments Centres, local NHS teams, and partner charities, ensuring that children, young people, and families continue to be at the heart of service development and quality improvement.