18,000 cancer patients’ medical files lost during their hospital stay

One in nine (11%) of the estimated 170,000 cancer patients in England admitted to hospital each year for treatment say their doctor or nurse lost their medical file at some point during their stay, according to new research by Macmillan Cancer Support. This equates to an estimated 18,000 patients a year. This carelessness could be putting the health of some patients at risk.

The YouGov survey of 2,217 UK adults living with cancer also reveals that, of the people who had stayed overnight in hospital to receive treatment in the last two years, one in ten (10%) say they were examined in an open ward or with their curtain at least partly open – infringing on their right to privacy. One in five (21%) cancer patients also say they felt patronised by hospital staff and 15% say they felt humiliated by the nurses treating them at some point during their stay.

The findings also revealed that cancer patients’ requests to be helped to the bathroom are being ignored. One in seven (14%) cancer patients who requested help to go to the bathroom say they were forced to wait at least 30-minutes for assistance and 1% were left for at least two hours. Around one in eight (12%) patients said they had an accident while waiting for assistance.

Hannah Merridale, 28, from Norfolk, was diagnosed with a cancerous carcinoid in her lung as a teenager. She says:

‘I was the youngest person on my ward by fifty years, and because of this I was deemed ‘young, fit and healthy’ by the nurses, who gave me a very hard time. They would take away my oxygen mask from me and put it out of arm’s reach, and the same happened with my water and buzzer. They would often kick my drain or wee pot as well.

‘The worst thing was when they gave me an epidural for the wrong side of my body, numbing my left side, when it was supposed to be my right. All the time I was in pain, but they wouldn’t listen. After five days they realised the error and took it out.’

These findings come when NHS England is reviewing the future of the annual National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES). The NCPES, which asks over 70,000 cancer patients about their hospital experience, is a vital method of monitoring hospitals’ performance and is key to increasing transparency, driving improvements in care and empowering patients.

Mike Hobday, Director of Policy and Research at Macmillan Cancer Support, says:

‘The lack of basic care, dignity, and respect experienced by cancer patients in hospital is shocking.

‘Giving patients a positive experience when they’re in hospital is as important as good medical care but sadly, there’s still a culture in some hospitals where hitting targets is put before the compassionate care of patients.

‘The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey has been hugely effective as a warning system for hospitals to improve their care. It is vital that it continues. Not only is it an essential way to drive improvements in cancer care, but it also provides a voice for thousands of cancer patients.

‘We are calling on NHS England to reassure people affected by cancer that the survey will remain. It is one crucial way to ensure patients are listened to and hospitals held to account. Patient experience needs to be at the heart of the NHS if we are to avoid another Mid-Staffs scandal.’

Macmillan is calling on NHS England to continue the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey beyond 2013 and is asking the public to support its campaign by signing a petition at www.macmillan.org.uk/patientexperience

If you need information or support, call Macmillan’s Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk

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