Western NSW patients rate cancer care highly

Data from the Bureau of Health Information’s Outpatient Cancer Clinics Survey 2023, released today, shows 98 per cent of patients surveyed across Western NSW rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Pleasingly, nearly all surveyed patients (98 per cent) rated the health professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, and 97 per cent agreed health professionals were kind and caring, and treated them with respect and dignity.

WNSWLHD Director of Cancer Services and Innovation, Dr Ruth Jones, said the results are a testament to the hard work of staff.

“Receiving cancer treatment is extremely stressful for patients and their loved ones, and our staff work tirelessly to not just deliver the best care possible but to ensure patients are respected, informed and engaged throughout their treatment journey,” Dr Jones said.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work our teams across the District’s cancer care network have done and continue to do every single day, so I’m thrilled to see our staff and our services rated so favourably by patients.”

Patients who received care in Orange reported extremely high levels of satisfaction with their care and the staff who treated them, with 99 per cent of those surveyed saying their overall care and the healthcare professionals who treated them were ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Across the survey, the Orange clinic received five results that were significantly better than the NSW average, including 98 per cent of patients saying they ‘would speak highly’ of their care to family and friends.

All patients surveyed (100 per cent) who received care at Bathurst Health Service said the health professionals who treated them were ‘very good’ or ‘good, and 99 per cent also rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Almost all (97 per cent) of patients surveyed also rated their overall care at Dubbo Hospital and the healthcare professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or good’, while 98 per cent said the way staff worked together was ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

“These results are proof of our staff’s ongoing commitment and focus to not just provide safe, high-quality care, but also to continue improving services and access to those services for people living with cancer across Western NSW,” Dr Jones said.