Charity Director Sarah Quinlan MBE shares her thoughts on Archie Goodburn’s very public plea, and the recent results of a huge patient survey.
Does a positive picture help us see the whole story, or deflect from a growing crisis?
NHS England has released the findings of its latest major cancer patient survey, and at first glance the headlines are soothing.
Overall, patients continue to rate their cancer care highly, with the overall experience score dipping only slightly but remaining strong at 8.92 out of 10.
Statistics » National Cancer Patient Experience Survey
How does this then sit with the impassioned plea on national television from 25-year-old Archie Goodburn? A plea so moving that thousands watched and shared the video.
The professional athlete, with tears in his eyes, begged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to drive more investment into rare cancer treatments way beyond the scope of the Rare Cancers Bill.
Cancer at its worst
Archie’s diagnosis, aged 22, with multiple inoperable brain tumours, is cancer at its boiling point worst. Terrorising young people, affecting more and more of us, and outrunning a government approach that has been asleep at the wheel for more than a decade.
The young swimmer’s desperation is a sharp reminder of how painful and terrifying living with cancer is.
This is why those recent survey results tell only half the story – the best side of cancer care in this country – which is almost entirely testament to the dedication, compassion and professionalism of the people working across cancer services every day.
We have a truly extraordinary workforce, and their commitment shines through in the care they provide, often in challenging circumstances.
But behind the positive scores are systemic pressures that cannot be ignored. Too many patients are still facing delays that affect their care and outcomes. Three in ten people are not receiving treatment on time against targets the government has pledged to hit by 2029. We have fewer radiotherapy machines than comparable countries. We continue to experience significant workforce shortages, and we are still waiting for a long-term workforce plan that addresses the scale of the challenge. We have young people like Archie facing limited options, with a clock that won’t stop ticking.
There is also a damaging narrative that suggests the answer to these pressures is simply for staff to become more efficient. That approach needs to be squashed once and for all. The issue is not a lack of commitment from our workforce – far from it. The people delivering cancer care are already working incredibly hard. Many are exhausted.
What we need is a system that supports them: the right structures, investment, equipment, workforce capacity and modern treatment that allow them to do their jobs without unnecessary obstacles.
Missing voices
And let us not forget the people whose experiences are missing from any survey. We regularly work with patients who have struggled to access the care they need. Sadly, some are no longer with us. Their voices are silent.
Listening to patients and measuring their experiences is vital. But a high satisfaction score is not evidence that cancer outcomes are improving or that survival rates are increasing.
Better survival depends on a complete chain of care: prevention, early diagnosis, timely access to treatment, the right treatments delivered at the right time, and ongoing support. Every part of that chain matters. If there are weak links, patients pay the price.
The survey tells us something important: cancer teams are valued and appreciated. But that is half the story and should not shield us from the truth. We still need the political and organisational will to tackle the entrenched challenges facing cancer care.
Because the ultimate measure of success is not just whether patients feel supported through their treatment journey, it is whether more people survive cancer. And survive it well. Archie, and many others, have already made it plain what’s at stake.