Date published: 22 July 2026
Cancer patients across the North East and North Cumbria have praised the care they received from NHS teams, according to the latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey published by NHS England.
The survey showed strong results across the region, with no area of cancer care scoring below the expected range. Patients rated services in the North East and North Cumbria above the national average in 25 areas, including being told their diagnosis sensitively, being involved in decisions about treatment, receiving support from hospital staff and confidence that their care teams worked well together.
The results provide valuable insight into patients' experiences and help NHS organisations understand what they are doing well, while identifying areas where further improvements can be made.
(Cancer patients across the North East and North Cumbria have praised the care, compassion and professionalism of NHS teams in the latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.)
Many patients highlighted the kindness, compassion and professionalism of NHS staff. They said they felt listened to, trusted their care teams and received clear information throughout their treatment.
Patients also reported positive experiences of communication with healthcare professionals, support from clinical teams, involvement in decisions about their care, and being treated with dignity and respect.
While feedback was overwhelmingly positive, the survey also identified opportunities for improvement. These include enhancing emotional support after treatment, helping people manage long-term side effects, increasing awareness of support available within local communities and promoting opportunities to take part in cancer research.
NHS organisations across the North East and North Cumbria continue to work together through the area's Cancer Alliance and Provider Collaborative to improve cancer services, reduce variation in patient experience and ensure everyone affected by cancer receives high-quality care.
Ken Bremner, Chair of the North East and North Cumbria Provider Collaborative, said:
"It's encouraging to see so many patients reporting positive experiences of cancer care across our region. These findings reflect the dedication, professionalism and compassion shown by NHS staff every day.
"One of the strengths of the Provider Collaborative is our ability to work together across organisational boundaries, sharing expertise and learning from each other to improve services for patients.
"While we are pleased with this feedback, we know there is always more to do. We remain committed to listening to patients, reducing unwarranted variation and ensuring everyone affected by cancer receives the best possible care and support, wherever they are treated in North East and North Cumbria."
Nicky Lambert, Clinical Lead for Nursing at Northern Cancer Alliance, said:
“We’re delighted that once again patients receiving treatment for cancer in the North East and North Cumbria have rated their overall NHS care highly.
“This is testament to the dedication and professionalism of colleagues who work tirelessly to provide the best possible personalised care to patients throughout their cancer journey.
“These headline figures give us much to be proud of, but we know every patient’s experience of cancer treatment is different. We will review the results carefully to identify variations in care and opportunities to further improve the quality of treatment and support we provide.
“As system leaders, we will work with NHS colleagues to better understand the data and take forward improvements where needed.”
The survey findings provide valuable insight into what matters most to patients and will help shape future improvements to cancer services across the region.
NHS organisations will continue to use patient feedback to drive improvements, ensuring care remains compassionate, personalised and responsive to the needs of people living with and beyond cancer.
