Cancer services clinical quality indicators

The clinical quality indicators for cancer services are:

Breast cancer survival

The clinical quality indicator for the proportion of patients surviving five years after treatment for breast cancer.

Rationale

High quality integrated care of patients with cancer improves long-term survival.

Our objectives

We aim for our five year survival rate to be in the top quartile of trusts.

Current performance

Awaiting confirmation.

 

Cellular pathology reporting

The clinical quality indicator for the proportion of cellular pathology specimens that are reported within seven days of receipt.

Rationale

Turnaround times measure efficiency of laboratory operation. A fast turnaround time is an important component of efficient and timely clinical care, and may facilitate earlier patient discharge.

NHS Improvement proposed targets for reports within seven days and three days.

Our objectives

We aim to report 95% of 'seven-day' reports and 50% of 'three-day' reports within the specified times.

Current performance

Awaiting information.

 

Palliative care

The clinical quality indicator for the proportion of patients who die in the place of their expressed preference.

Rationale

Many patients receiving palliative care express a preference to die outside hospital, either at home or in another community care setting.

Our objectives

We will aim for 80% of patients known to the community palliative care service to achieve their expressed preference.

Current performance

In 2013-14, 83% of patients known to the Royal Free community palliative care team, and who expressed a preference, died in their preferred place of care.

We met our goal for this metric.

[Source: Coordinate My Care]