A HEALTH watchdog looking into concerns about the breast cancer team at Stafford Hospital has revealed the results of a survey polling patients of the service.
Staffordshire LINk launched the study after a report by the Greater Midlands Cancer Research Network revealed internal management issues including communication problems and open hostility between managers and clinicians.
Staffordshire LINk manager Sue Baknak said that while the original study had been highly critical of the breast cancer unit, the results of the survey suggested any internal issues were not having a negative impact on patient care.
More than three quarters of respondents to the LINk’s survey, 77 per cent, said their overall experience of care by the team was positive, with only 19 per cent rating their overall experience as negative.
“The people who reported a positive experience also talked about the sensitivity of the staff and the support given to families,” Mrs Baknak said. “The time taken from diagnosis to surgery was praised, as was the availability of staff over the phone.”
She said both studies highlighted the importance of including the experiences of real service users in the reporting and decision-making process.
Robert Courteney-Harris, Medical Director at Stafford Hospital said: “We are always pleased to receive patient feedback and we thank the LINK for sharing their survey.
“We will continue to strive to ensure that all patients using breast cancer services at Stafford Hospital have a positive experience.”
