Colorectal cancer quality performance indicators (QPIs)
Patients diagnosed from April 2022 to March 2025

About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) summarises recent national performance, measured using the national Quality Performance Indicators relating to the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (bowel cancer). The aim of the indicators is to ensure that efforts to improve treatment are focussed on improving patient survival and individual care experience whilst reducing variation and supporting the most effective and efficient delivery of care. The indicators for all the included cancers were developed by, and periodically undergo formal review by, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), PHS and the three regional cancer networks (NCA - North Cancer Alliance; SCAN - South East Scotland Cancer Network; and WoSCAN - West of Scotland Cancer Network). Data is gathered and recorded in a central database (eCASE electronic Cancer Audit Support Environment) by specialised cancer audit teams working in NHS Boards.

This dataset includes patients who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (see full list of included anatomical sites in the PHS data definitions document) from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025.

Main points

• The numbers of patients included in these cancer audit records decreased year-on-year:
  • 3,876 patients diagnosed between April 2022 and March 2023
  • 3,757 patients diagnosed between April 2023 and March 2024
  • 3,685 patients diagnosed between April 2024 and March 2025
• At Scotland level for April 2024 to March 2025, the target was met for 16 of the 21 indicators.
• While the target was not met for QPI 2 on pre-operative imaging, there is agreement that this QPI no longer reflects current practice, as a result of changes in treatment pathways and this QPI will be measured differently in future.
• QPI 7(i) surgical margins has not been reported for the latest two years. The data has not yet been supplied by all three cancer networks and as such the measure will be reported in a future revision to this report in due course.
• Performance against both mortality QPIs 12 (ii) and (iii), represents small numbers of patients and is prone to yearly changes. Clinical reviews of those who died raised no concern around the decision making to undertake treatment.
• QPI 15 represents the referral of patients with liver metastases to hepatobiliary multidisciplinary teams. Regional reports acknowledge discussions have taken place and actions have been agreed to monitor and improve rates of referral.
• The target was not met for QPI 16(ii) patients with suspected Lynch Syndrome referred to genetics. However, performance did improve over the period. Performance was detrimentally affected by a gap in the exclusion criteria, and these have been adjusted for the QPI going forward so that results will be a truer reflection.
• Encouragingly, excellent performance was seen in the majority of QPIs. The results presented in this report are encouraging and demonstrate that patients with colorectal cancer in Scotland continue to receive a consistently high standard of care.

Background

The QPIs were put in place to support quality improvement in the treatment of a range of cancers - see About the QPIs. Scottish territorial health boards are required to report their performance against these nationally agreed indicators under the national cancer quality programme - see Scottish Government letter CEL 06 2012. Reporting in this current format was first undertaken in 2012. Performance for other cancers can be found in QPI reports.

Each of the networks release reports in respect of QPI performance in their region for recent years: NCA, SCAN and WoSCAN. In addition, those directly involved in service improvement can access more detailed information through the Cancer QPI Dashboard within SCRIS (Scottish Cancer Registry and Intelligence Service). Due to the level of detail, access is strictly controlled. New users may apply for authorisation via https://useraccess.nhsnss.scot.nhs.uk.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be June 2029.