Cancer patients across Norfolk and Suffolk have shared positive experiences of NHS care in a major national survey, with the findings reinforcing the priorities at the heart of NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board’s (ICB) new Population Health and Commissioning Strategy.
More than 1,800 people from across Norfolk and Suffolk took part in the 2025 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, one of the largest surveys of its kind in England. Patients gave their overall care an average score of 8.9 out of 10, with the results highlighting compassionate care, strong teamwork and high levels of support throughout many stages of the cancer pathway.
The survey found that:
- 89% of patients felt the teams caring for them worked well together.
- 94% said they had a named point of contact within their cancer team.
- 96% found advice from that person helpful.
- Norfolk and Suffolk performed significantly better than expected nationally for involving families and carers in treatment decisions, with 88% of patients saying those closest to them were involved as much as they wanted.
The survey also identified opportunities to improve patients’ experiences, particularly around ensuring people receive clear information about the possible side effects of treatment and can always access support from ward staff when they need it.
While the survey reflects patients’ experiences during 2025, before the creation of NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB and the development of its new Population Health and Commissioning Strategy, the findings provide valuable insight into what matters most to people using cancer services.
The ICB’s strategy sets out a new approach to strategic commissioning that focuses on improving outcomes, reducing health inequalities and designing services around the needs and experiences of local people. The survey findings reinforce that this direction of travel is the right one, highlighting the importance of personalised care, clear communication, joined-up services and involving patients and families in decisions about their care.
Richard Watson, Executive Director of Strategy, Digital and Commissioning at NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, said: “These findings provide valuable insight into what matters most to people receiving cancer care and reinforce the importance of putting patients’ experiences at the heart of how we plan and commission services.
“It’s encouraging to see so many people describing compassionate, joined-up care and the positive impact that our NHS teams are having across Norfolk and Suffolk. At the same time, the survey highlights areas where we know we can do more, particularly around communication, personalised support and ensuring people feel informed throughout their treatment.
“As we deliver our Population Health and Commissioning Strategy and develop our longer-term cancer strategy, we’ll use this feedback alongside clinical evidence, data and local insight to shape future services. Working closely with our providers, partners and local communities, our ambition is to commission care that improves outcomes, reduces inequalities and delivers the best possible experience for every patient.”
The ICB will now use the findings alongside local insight, data and intelligence, clinical evidence, and feedback from patients and communities to continue working with partners to improve cancer services across Norfolk and Suffolk.
This includes working with providers through our cancer programme working groups to strengthen personalised care, improve communication throughout treatment, ensure people have access to the information and support they need to make informed decisions, and reduce unwarranted variation in experience and outcomes across the system. These priorities will be embedded within the ICB’s new five-year cancer strategy, which is currently in development.
As the ICB delivers its Population Health and Commissioning Strategy and develops its longer-term cancer strategy, patient feedback will continue to play a central role in shaping the future of cancer services, ensuring they remain clinically effective, financially sustainable and, above all, centred on the needs of local people.