Thank you for taking part in this UK-wide survey.
Macmillan Cancer Support and the Royal College of Pharmacy (RCP) are gathering insights into how polypharmacy is managed in cancer care across the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Your responses will help shape national guidance, workforce development and practical tools to support medicines optimisation for people living with cancer.
The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete and is anonymous.
This survey is intended for health professionals involved in the care of adults with cancer and long-term conditions, including:
Doctor (oncologists, GPs, Specialty Registrars)
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians (hospital, primary care and community)
Nurses (oncology, primary care/community, palliative/end of life care)
Allied Health Professional (dietitian, diagnostic radiographer, occupational therapist, paramedic, physiotherapist, podiatrist, therapeutic radiographer, speech and language therapist)
Please answer based on your usual practice, considering all medicines a person may be taking, including cancer treatments and medicines for other conditions.
For this survey:
- Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medicines by one individual.
- Appropriate polypharmacy refers to medicines that are clinically indicated, optimised, and prescribed according to best available evidence.
- Inappropriate polypharmacy refers to medicines that are no longer appropriate, where harms outweigh the benefits, medicines interact or increase the risk of harm, or where the overall regimen becomes unmanageable or distressing for the person.
Data Protection and Respondent Information Statement (Macmillan Cancer Support and RCPharm)
How your information will be used
Thank you for taking part in this survey. Macmillan Cancer Support and RCPharm are working together to understand real-world experiences, challenges, and opportunities in managing polypharmacy among cancer patients across the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). Your feedback will help inform practical solutions and improve patient care.
This survey is anonymous. We will not ask for your name, contact details, NHS number, or anything that could directly identify you. Please avoid including any identifiable details in your answers.
The information you provide will be used only to:
- Understand patient experiences of managing multiple medicines
- Identify common challenges and unmet needs
- Inform future guidance, resources, and service improvements for people living with cancer
- Support Macmillan and RCPharm in shaping better care and professional practice
How your information will be stored and protected
Both Macmillan Cancer Support and RCPharm follow strict UK data protection laws, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Your data will be:
- Stored securely on encrypted, access‑controlled systems
- Accessible only to authorised members of the joint project team
- Analysed in aggregated form so no individual can be identified
- Kept confidential at all times
No personal data will be shared outside the project team.
How long your data will be kept
Anonymised survey responses will be retained for up to 12 months and then securely deleted.
Your rights
Because the survey is anonymous, we cannot withdraw or amend individual responses after submission. However, you can:
- Ask questions about how your information is used
- Request further details about data protection
- Raise concerns with either organisation’s Data Protection Officer or with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Who is responsible for your data
This survey is jointly led by:
Macmillan Cancer Support
Royal College Pharmacy RCPharm
If you have any questions about how your information is used, you can contact:
Further information
You can read our full privacy notice here:
Macmillan Cancer Support Privacy Notice: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/privacy