In September 2006, at a time when the NHS was undergoing significant change, under financial pressure, and the funding of cancer treatments was rarely out of the media, Cancerbackup commissioned a major public survey to better understand the values the public hold in relation to cancer services.

What do the public think of cancer services in the UK? Do they still believe cancer should be a national health priority? Do they think the standard of NHS cancer care is good enough? Do they believe in equity of access? Would they be happy to be treated in the private sector, as long as it was free? These questions were all investigated in an Ipsos MORI survey, sponsored by PruHealth.

This work led to Cancer Values: Part Two, in June 2007, which investigated public opinions around how far people would be prepared to travel to get better outcomes for cancer treatment and under what circumstances.

Values work such as this, based on what people really think, should have far-reaching influence over the direction of health policy in the UK.

Cancer Values Part One 

September 2006

These are the results of an Ipsos MORI survey, sponsored by PruHealth, and the results are representative of the adult British population. The survey also includes a sub-sample of people who had been diagnosed with cancer in the last five years and a further group of people who have someone in their household who has been diagnosed with cancer in the last five years. Cancer is spontaneously cited as the public’s top health priority, far exceeding heart disease in second place.

Press release

Public are passionate about equity but would accept private treatment centres in Cancerbackup Ipsos MORI survey
24 September 2006

In Parliament

Since the launch of the Cancer Values report we have met with Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Cancer, to discuss the issues within the report. This meeting led to the decision to conduct Cancer Values: Part Two.

Cancer Values: Part Two

June 2007

Patient choice is a crucial issue within the NHS and a central factor within this debate is the issue of how far, if at all, patients will/should travel to receive treatment.

With ‘Cancer Values: Part Two’ we set out to investigate public opinions around how far people would be prepared to travel to get better outcomes for cancer treatment and under what circumstances. This briefing reflects the results of a full Ipsos MORI report, commissioned by Cancerbackup and sponsored by PruHealth. The report used both quantitative and qualitative methods and the quantitative results are representative of the adult British population.

This is the first in depth picture we have into how people will react to patient choice within cancer. Whilst this report looks specifically at the choices people would make if they were diagnosed with cancer we believe that many of the issues would be common across other disease areas. The results are nuanced and show the many factors that affect peoples’ decisions.

Press release

Cancer patients willing to travel for better care, Cancerbackup study reveals
19 June 2007

Cancer Reform Strategy

The report has been given to the Cancer Reform Strategy to be considered within their deliberations.

Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, said: "I welcome these findings which provide valuable insights into the choices which people may wish to make regarding treatment and care for cancer. We will take account of these results in the development of the forthcoming Cancer Reform Strategy".