Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (Chemotherapy)
Some cancers are treated primarily by a range of anti-cancer drugs and many cancers are managed by a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatments. Whereas information on surgery and radiotherapy is collected nationally, there has been, up to now, no national collection of data recording the management of patients receiving cancer drug treatment.
In September 2011, the NHS Information Standards Board has now granted Full Stage approval to the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Information Standard (Standard Number ISB 1533). An Information Standard Notice has been circulated to the NHS. All relevant documents can be found on the ISB website.
The standard covers all patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in or funded by the NHS in England. The data standard relates to all cancer patients, both adult and paediatric, in acute inpatient, daycase, outpatient settings and delivery in the community. It covers chemotherapy treatment for all solid tumour and haematological malignancies, including those in clinical trials.
With the advent of electronic systems, particularly electronic prescribing, it is possible to record complex information on patient management in a standardised way. The reporting data set will be used at both local and national levels to generate reports consistent with the requirements of the Cancer Reform Strategy and Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer. It will provide high quality data to support service development and commissioning.
The Chemotherapy Intelligence Unit (CIU) has been established, which will receive the returns, hold the data repository and provide analysis and reporting functions. The CIU is managed jointly by the National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) and the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN).
A SACT website is now operational www.chemodataset.nhs.uk where all the relevant documentation, data submission guidance, schedules for submission and FAQs can be found. The website will also provide access to the upload portal for the SACT data submissions.
The website will also contain information and corresponding resources on the SACT data set, requirements for submission of data, data submission guidance, schedules for submission and FAQs.
Current timetable
- Information Standards Notice (ISN) circulated to NHS September 2011.
- October 2011 to March 2012 - Trusts need to review their capabilities in relation to the ISN and develop individual action plans.
- 1st April 2012 – Start of mandatory collection from trusts with e-prescribing systems.
- September 2012 - trusts without e-prescribing systems commence partial downloads.
- By April 2014, all trusts submitting full data.
Contact Details
For details of the dataset and guidance on its implementation, please refer to the linked documents.
Chemotherapy Intelligence Unit – for issues in relation to extracting and submitting data
or
Dr Ken Lloyd and Sue Forsey – for clinical issues