Review of colorectal cancer quality performance indicators: consultation

8. Survival

Improving survival forms an integral part of the national cancer quality improvement programme. Colorectal cancer survival analysis will be reported and analysed on a 3 yearly basis by Information Services Division ( ISD). The specific issues which will be addressed will be identified by an expert group ahead of any analysis being undertaken, as per the agreed national cancer quality governance and improvement framework.

The Colorectal Cancer QPI Development Group has identified, during the QPI development process, the following issues for survival analysis:

• Overall 1, 2 and 5 year survival.

To ensure consistent application of survival analysis, it has been agreed that a single analyst on behalf of all three regional cancer networks undertakes this work. Survival analysis will be scheduled as per the national survival analysis and reporting timetable, agreed with the National Cancer Quality Steering Group and Scottish Cancer Taskforce. This reflects the requirement for record linkage and the more technical requirements of survival analyses which would make it difficult for individual Boards to undertake routinely and in a nationally consistent manner.