Data collection
Promoting efficient and effective data collection throughout the cancer journey
A large amount of information on cancer services is already collected. For example (in England):
- Cancer registries - Comprehensive information on incidence, mortality, survival
- Hospital Episode Statistics - Activity data and lengths of stay in the NHS
- National Screening Programmes - Coverage, QA measures, outcomes
- Cancer Waiting Times - 2 week wait, 31 day and 62 day targets
- Peer Review - Quality measures on >2000 teams and services
- Programme Budgeting Data - Expenditure on cancer by PCT
Current projects:
NCIN has several current projects to improve data availability:
Achievements to date:
In collaboration with NCAT, DH, UKACR, NHS Improvement and the cancer networks NCIN has already improved the availability of data:
NHS Contract for Acute Services
The NHS contract for acute services requires Trusts to supply the national cancer registration dataset to their regional cancer registry. NCIN is now working with cancer networks and cancer registries to implement this requirement.
Going further on cancer waits
From January 2009, collection of cancer waits data has been expanded to cover a greater number of patients, including, for the first time, those with recurrent tumours. The first data under the new system was published in May 2009.
Radiotherapy Dataset Collection
From April 1st 2009, all providers of radiotherapy to NHS patients are required to submit an agreed dataset, linked to the Out Patient Commissioning Dataset for every fraction of radiotherapy delivered to their patients. This will enable progress against the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group guidelines to be assessed, as well as providing an insight to variations in radiotherapy treatment across England. Ultimately the data will be included in the national data repository and for cancer registration.
