UKLCC National patient and carers’ survey

It is commonly acknowledged that lung cancer patients get a raw deal when compared to other cancer patients. Despite accounting for more than a fifth of all UK cancer deaths, lung cancer receives less than four per cent of all current UK cancer research funding. And despite improvements in services in recent years, wide variations in lung cancer treatment and care continue to persist across the UK. For a number of reasons, outcomes remain poor – with survival rates lagging seriously behind other comparable EU countries.

Since its formation, the UK Lung Cancer Coalition has worked tirelessly with health professionals, NHS trusts, cancer networks, Royal Colleges, parliamentarians and Government to help reduce the terrible death toll of lung cancer. It has been a major driver in encouraging hospitals to submit data to the National Lung Cancer Audit to help drive up best-practice and improve standards of care for patients. It has published a number of ground-breaking, high-profile, national reports into lung cancer. However, there is still much more to be done.

Our latest initiative – in partnership with our charity, health professional and health company members – is a nationwide survey to gather information about patient and carer experiences of lung cancer care and services. Without doubt, the key to improving patient outcomes is to help us understand what really matters to people living with lung cancer – and how their experience of living with lung cancer could be improved. Wherever appropriate, we want to engage current patients – or the friends and family who care for them – to fill in the survey and tell us what they think. We want their voices to be heard and ultimately reach our goal of helping to double UK lung cancer survival.

The survey is now available on our website and the results will be shared later this year. Please share this link www.uklcc.org.uk.

Dr Mick Peake

• Chair, Clinical Reference Group, UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC)
• Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester
• Clinical Lead, National Cancer Intelligence Network and National Lung Cancer Audit