Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey
Introduction
A diagnosis of childhood cancer understandably has a devastating impact on the emotional health and wellbeing of the child and their family, both during and after treatment. Children and young people’s treatment and experience of cancer differs greatly from adults, and we recognise the need for a personalised approach to their cancer care.
It’s so important for us to listen and learn from children and young people in order to provide them with the best possible care and experience throughout treatment and to reduce the impact it has on them later in life.
The Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey informs how the NHS delivers cancer services with the aim to radically improve the outcomes for children and young people affected by cancer.
The NHS really wants to hear from children and young people, and their families, about their experiences so that we can continue to improve the care and services the NHS delivers. If you receive an invitation in the post, please complete the survey.
What is the Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey?
In 2020, NHS England launched a national survey to measure the experience of children and young people under the age of 16 in care and treatment for cancer. This survey builds on the success of the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey but recognises that cancer care pathways and care priorities for children often differ to adults, and therefore a unique approach is required to understand their experiences of cancer care and treatment.
The results from the survey provides national-level insight into the experiences of children with cancer and will inform how the NHS delivers cancer services going forward.
Fieldwork for those who received cancer-related care and treatment in 2024 will commence in April 2025, with the results due for release in autumn 2025. NHS England are working with Picker to deliver this survey. For more information, visit www.under16cancerexperiencesurvey.co.uk.
How will the survey be used?
The survey has been running since 2020 and the results provide national-level insight into the experiences of children with cancer and informs how the NHS delivers cancer services going forward. Commissioners, providers and national policymakers use the results to assess performance both locally and nationally, to help identify priority areas for enhancing children’s cancer services. The aim is to radically improve the outcomes for children and young people affected by cancer.
More information
For more information visit www.under16cancerexperiencesurvey.co.uk and watch our video below.
If you have a question about the survey, please visit https://www.under16cancerexperiencesurvey.co.uk/faq
