Audit reports
Each SCAN Tumour-Specific Group is required to prepare an Annual Comparative Report so as to review results and propose action for improvement if necessary. There are reports for the Breast, Colorectal, Gynaecology, Haematology, Head and Neck, Lung, Skin, Upper GI and Urology groups.
SCAN Audit: Prospective Cancer Audit
Complete and accurate data is essential to be able to measure standards of care and outcome of treatment. SCAN Audit coordinates preparation of SCAN Comparative Audit Reports. These contain -
- Analysis of information about the numbers of patients diagnosed annually and their diagnosis, staging, treatment, and outcome of treatment.
- Results measured against nationally agreed or other quality standards for cancers, where these are in place.
- Reports identify action points for improvement arising from the results.
There is an agreed process for the preparation of reports: SCAN Comparative Audit Report Process (PDF, 34k)
Collection of high-quality data is by the SCAN Audit team (mainly for patients diagnosed in NHS Lothian) and by health board cancer audit staff in NHS Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, and Fife. Patients’ pathways of care may cross boundaries within the network and information about exchange of data is available in the document: Exchange of Data: Levels and Confidentiality Requirements.
Results reported are based on nationally-agreed datasets and definitions published by the Information Services Division (ISD) of National Services Scotland. Datasets and definitions can be viewed on the ISD website. Datasets are common across the SCAN region, and Scotland as a whole, meaning that results can be compared between services.
Annual Comparative Reports contain results measured against national quality standards, if these are in place. From 2013 onwards these will be reporting against national cancer Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs). Work is on-going, through the National Cancer Quality Steering Group of the Scottish Cancer Taskforce, to prepare nationally-agreed Quality Performance Indicators for all main adult cancer types.
Audit staff work with clinicians to check and validate the quality of the data and results reported. Data may also be subject to external validation by ISD Scotland. Each report is subject to review by the lead clinicians to agree sign-off, and to comment and report on any variances.
Subject to obtaining appropriate permissions, SCAN Audit data also provides a rich source of data for a variety of other purposes, including service planning and redesign, capacity planning, improvement of clinical practice, protocol development, research, and outcome analysis.
More recently, data are being submitted for measurement against UK-wide national cancer audit reporting to BASO -The Association For Cancer Surgery (for Breast Cancer); the British Association of Urological Surgeons; the National Lung Cancer Audit and the National Bowel Cancer Audit - reports for these can be viewed on the NHS Information Centre website.
Please complete this request form (Microsoft Word) if you wish to access the SCAN Audit Datasets or Databases for data.