HC Deb 19 September 2003 vol 410 c1343W
Mr. Baron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efforts are being made to monitor the satisfaction of prostate cancer patients with their NHS treatment; and what the findings are. [130039]

Miss Melanie Johnson

[holding answer 16 September 2003]: A national cancer patient survey took place in 2001. Over 65,000 cancer patients discharged between July 1999 and June 2000 responded, including almost 11,000 men with prostate cancer. The outcome of the survey was published in July 2002 and it is available at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhspatients/cancersurvey. It provides a baseline measurement of cancer patients' experience of care in the national health service against which improvements can be monitored.

Overall the survey showed patients reporting:

  • confidence in the doctors responsible for their care;
  • being treated with dignity and respect;
  • understanding the explanation of their diagnosis; and
  • being involved in decision making as much as they wanted.

Doctors in selected specialties, England, by year
As at 30 September each year1 Numbers (headcount)
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 March 2003
All staff consultant of which All staff consultant of which All stuff consultant of which All stuff consultant of which All staff consultant of which Consultant
Histopathology2 1,100 828 1,129 836 1,199 865 1,291 915 1,374 968 994
Clinical radiology 2,075 1.481 2,164 1,507 2,303 1,585 2.454 1,645 2,538 1.702 1,781
Urology 961 358 1,024 388 1,052 382 1,115 427 1,164 448 466
1 Except 2003 where data is as at 31 March
2 Histopathology includes general pathology and neuropathology

Source:

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census