CANCER patients have judged the way they are treated at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital as above average.

The hospital scored an overall average of 8.9 out of ten in the latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey - beating the national mark of 8.7.

The results of the survey showed.

*93 per cent of respondents said that overall the administration of their care was very good or good.

*92 per cent said they were always treated with dignity and respect.

*82 per cent were “definitely” involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their care and treatment.

*95 per cent said staff had told them who to contact if they were worried about their condition or treatment after they left hospital.

The survey attracted a 77 per cent response rate, beating the national average response rate of 66 per cent.

Hayley Peters, Musgrove’s director of patient care, said: “I would like to thank everyone who completed this confidential survey.

“The results highlight very good standards of patient experience, which we strive to provide throughout the hospital.

“We are committed to improving all the time, and acting on feedback from our patients and visitors.

"Insight from these results will help us improve our cancer services even further.”

Commissioned by NHS England and now in its fifth year, the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey monitors national progress on cancer care, to support local quality improvements, assist care commissioners and providers, and offer information to charities and other groups that support cancer patients.