With survival rates at an all-time high, the national cancer patient survey has revealed the best results in its history with almost 70,000 patients rating their overall care nine out of 10.

The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey asks people with cancer across England to rate their care on a scale of zero (very poor) to 10 (very good).

Overall ratings continue to improve, with year on year increases in reported positive experience. Patients also reported more positively on areas including involvement in decisions about care and treatment, and being treated with dignity and respect.

The survey also points to areas for further improvement including follow up community and social care after treatment. Work is underway to improve in these areas, to ensure patients receive personalised care to live with and beyond cancer.

Cally Palmer, NHS England’s national cancer director, said: “The results of this survey are a testament to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff.

“Supporting people with cancer is a key part of the NHS’ ten year plan which is why one of our key ambitions is to put cancer patient experience front and centre of our work.

“The latest statistics are clear – the number of people living beyond cancer is at a record high and we now know that the vast majority of people with cancer also feel positive about the care they receive.”

Key findings of the national cancer patient experience survey for 2017 include:

• The 69,072 respondents gave an average rating of 8.80 with 94% of patient giving a rating of 7 or higher a statistically significant increase on last year’s score.
• 79% of respondents said that they were definitely involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their care – a statistically significant increase from last year
• 91% of respondents said they were given the name of a Clinical Nurse Specialist who would support them through their treatment – a statistically significant increase from last year. With the majority of respondents said that it had been “quite easy” or “very easy” to contact their CNS
• 89% of respondents said that, overall, they were always treated with dignity and respect while they were in hospital – a statistically significant increase from last year
• 94% of respondents said that hospital staff told them who to contact if they were worried about their condition or treatment after they left hospital.

The full results are available on the Quality Health website.