Comparative indicators for cancer network management in England: availability, characteristics and presentation
Mark McCarthy1, Arturo Gonzalez-Izquierdo, Chris Sherlaw-Johnson
1UCL Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. m.mccarthy@ucl.ac.uk
BMC Health Services Research
|February 29, 2008
Summary
Performance indicators for cancer networks in England are available. Data sets covering structure, process, and outcomes can support cancer network management and performance assessment.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Oncology
- Health Informatics
Background:
- England's 2000 national cancer plan established 34 cancer networks to coordinate services for large populations.
- These networks required data to manage services effectively, necessitating an investigation into available data sets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the availability and suitability of national data sets for supporting cancer network management.
- To assess data reflecting structure, process, and outcome measures for performance evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed national data sets for four common cancers: breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate.
- Assessed data availability, completeness, and identified key indicators for the 34 cancer networks.
- Explored methods for data presentation and graphical representation.
Main Results:
- Structural data available from Acute Hospitals Portfolio and Cancer Standards Peer Review.
- Process measures identified in Hospital Episode Statistics and Hospital Waiting-List data.
- Outcome measures included patient satisfaction surveys and cancer survival data from cancer registration.
Conclusions:
- Comparative performance indicators exist within the National Health Service for cancer networks.
- These indicators, though not yet integrated in practice, are suitable for network performance assessment.
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