Cancer Treatment Experiences To Be Documented

Media Release

Cancer Control Council of New Zealand

Friday 5 June 2009

Cancer Patient Treatment Experiences To Be Documented

The Cancer Control Council of New Zealand is aiming to find out what experiences cancer patients are having in the New Zealand health system.

The Cancer Control Council is a Ministerial Advisory Committee which provides independent strategic advice to the Minister of Health on all matters relating to cancer. This advice is aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of cancer and reducing inequalities with respect to cancer.

Council chair, Dame Cath Tizard says that there have been strong calls from the cancer sector for better information about service provision and understanding what patients expect compared to what they actually get from the health system.

“We looked overseas for a credible tool to measure people’s experiences with cancer treatment and have settled on the Patient Experiences Survey conducted by IPSOS, which is used by such countries as Canada and Australia. It also means we can compare New Zealand health services with those overseas.”

The Council will ask 3,500 people about their experiences as cancer patients.

“As this survey is a first for New Zealand it will give us a benchmark and will help those providing cancer treatment with some insights into service gaps and issues. This survey will help provide some of the information needed to ensure that people affected by cancer receive the best possible care from the New Zealand health system in the future.”

Dame Cath says the Council is delighted that this survey has received strong support from the Ministry of Health and Cancer Centres around the country.

The survey will target people who have received outpatient cancer treatment in the past 12 months.

“The Council urges all cancer patients approached by mail to take part in this survey as the more responses we get, the better understanding and insight we will have to ensure we provide better cancer treatment care in the future.”

A report containing the survey results will be published on the Cancer Control Council website www.cancercontrolcouncilgovt.nz from late 2009.

ENDS

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