Only about half of the patients at Nepean Hospital’s outpatient cancer clinic are told about the side effects of their treatment or of the drugs they are prescribed, a survey has found.
The study of statewide cancer clinics in 2017 found that just 54 per cent of patients said they had been warned of possible side effects to look out for and given enough information about how to manage any side effects they experienced.
This compares with the state average of 72-74 per cent.
The Bureau of Health Information surveyed more than 11,000 patients who attended one of the state’s 50 cancer outpatient clinics in 2017.
The study of 70 questions covered such areas as communication and information, trust and confidence, respect and dignity, safety and hygiene and the physical environment of the clinic.
Other poor results for Nepean included:
- Only one-third said the waiting area was comfortable
- Less than half (44%) found the treatment area comfortable
- Only 26 per cent had a written care plan for their current or ongoing care
- Almost half said medical staff didn’t discuss their worries or fears with them
On the positive side, an overwhelming majority of patients believed they were treated with respect and dignity (95%), were given privacy when being examined or treated (95%) and when discussing their condition or treatment (94%).
Almost all (98%) reported that the clinic’s staff respected their religious or cultural beliefs.
And 81 per cent agreed that the care they received was “very good”.
A spokesman for Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District said since the survey new measures had been introduced to improve communication with patients receiving cancer care.
“Previously, patients attending their first course of treatment were fully briefed on all aspects of their care, including potential side effects; however, for some patients less information may have been provided during their subsequent treatments.
“Information at every stage of treatment will now be provided, regardless of whether patients have previously been briefed on their treatment plan and any side effects, to ensure they are more fully informed.”
He also said more doctors, nurses and allied health staff were being recruited next year to meet the increased demand for cancer treatment.
And concerns about the treatment rooms and waiting area were also being addressed, the spokesman said.
“We are currently expanding the Nepean Cancer Care Centre. The upgrade will double the number of treatment bays, where patients receive chemotherapy and other care from 15 to 30 and increase the size of the clinical consultation space.
“Construction of the new facilities, which are part of the $1 billion redevelopment of Nepean Hospital, are well underway and will be operational in mid-2019,” he said.