In an era when conversations about the NHS are so often dominated by waiting times, resource pressures, and overstretched staff, it is refreshing, and deeply reassuring, to hear a story defined instead by patient trust, dignity, and genuine compassion. That is precisely what has emerged from the latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, where Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has taken the top spot in England with an overall score of 9.31 out of 10, well above the upper expected range.
These results are not just about numbers. They are a reflection of the human interactions and day-to-day decisions that shape a patient’s journey through one of the most difficult experiences a person can face. At Northumbria, an extraordinary 98 per cent of cancer patients said staff always ensured they had enough privacy when discussing diagnostic test results, and 97 per cent reported receiving all the information they needed ahead of those tests. In a healthcare climate where privacy and clear communication are too often the first casualties of time pressure, these statistics speak volumes.
The trust cared for more than 2,600 cancer patients in Northumberland and North Tyneside last year. Alongside delivering ongoing treatment, it launched a targeted lung health screening programme aimed at people aged between 55 and 74. This initiative involves consultations with specialist lung nurses and, where appropriate, low-dose CT scans, enabling early detection of disease and offering patients reassurance and clarity about their health. It’s the kind of proactive, preventive approach that turns policy goals into tangible outcomes.
Behind these achievements lies the dedication of the trust’s workforce. Amanda Walshe, lead cancer nurse, has spoken with pride about her colleagues, emphasising that the survey results are evidence of a team that genuinely places patient care at the heart of its work. Marion Dickson, the executive director of nursing, has highlighted the resilience and skill of staff across the board, describing their commitment to delivering exceptional care despite the immense pressures they face. These are not empty platitudes, they are observations backed by the testimony of patients themselves.
It’s important to remember that the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey is more than an annual snapshot. It is a mirror held up to the health system by those it serves. The feedback is both a celebration of what works and a challenge to address what does not. Northumbria’s high performance shows a trust that is listening and learning, using patient insights to strengthen services year on year.
That is not to say there is no room for improvement. One area flagged by the survey was the level of support patients felt they received from their GP during cancer treatment. Just under half said they “definitely” had the right amount of support, a figure that mirrors the national average but has dipped slightly from the previous year. This serves as a reminder that hospital-based excellence must be matched by strong, coordinated support in primary care, ensuring that patients feel guided and cared for at every step.
Still, what Northumbria has achieved is significant. It demonstrates that even in a system under extraordinary strain, exceptional patient experience is possible. It shows that when staff are empowered, supported, and valued, they can deliver not only safe and effective care but also the kind of human connection that patients remember long after treatment ends.
The lesson here is not complicated, but it is profound. Excellence in healthcare is built from countless small acts: making time to explain results, offering privacy at the most vulnerable moments, listening without rushing. These things do not require vast new budgets or technological breakthroughs, they require a culture that treats patients as partners in their own care, with dignity as the baseline, not the bonus.
In the journey through cancer, where uncertainty and fear can feel overwhelming, such moments of respect and clarity can be as vital to healing as any medical intervention. Northumbria Healthcare’s performance is proof that compassionate, patient-centred care is not only achievable but sustainable, even in challenging times. It is a standard worth celebrating, and one worth striving to replicate across the NHS.
