About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents performance against the National Prostate Cancer Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) in the Cancer QPIs dashboard held within the Scottish Cancer Registry and Intelligence Service (SCRIS).

Main points

  • There were 3,543 men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in Scotland from July 2020 to June 2021. This was similar to the 3,530 diagnosed from July 2019 to June 2020 but a substantial decrease from July 2018 to June 2019 where 3,741 men were diagnosed.
  • At Scotland level for July 2020 to June 2021, the target was met for five of the 12 indicators.

Information is available on performance against QPI 6 Volume of Cases per Surgeon.

  • Some of the QPI targets have proved challenging to achieve over the three years (QPIs relating to Hormone Therapy (QPI 7), Post Surgical Incontinence (QPI 8), Management of Active Surveillance (QPI 11) and Low Burden Metastatic Disease (QPI 15)).
  • Regarding QPI 7(ii), in April 2020, the National Cancer Medicines Advisory Group approved the routine off-label use of oral Abiraterone in low risk newly diagnosed metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer patients who would otherwise be offered Docetaxel. This contributed to the substantial decline in numbers of patients receiving Docetaxel during April to June 2020 and all of 2020/21.
  • It is reassuring however that the QPI relating to Radiological Staging (QPI 2) was met nationally throughout the three years. Also encouraging is that an improvement in the most recent 2020/21 results can be seen in the majority of QPIs compared to previous years.
  • Following a national formal review of Prostate QPIs in October 2022, there will be some changes made to existing QPIs in future years which should result in improvements.

Background

National cancer quality performance indicators have been developed to support continuous quality improvement in cancer care (CEL 06 2012). NHS Boards are required to report these indicators against a clinically agreed indicator specific target as part of the mandatory national cancer quality programme. They have been developed collaboratively by North Cancer Alliance, South East Scotland Cancer Network, West of Scotland Cancer Network, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and PHS.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be December 2025.

General enquiries

If you have an enquiry relating to this publication, please email phs.cancerstats@phs.scot.

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Older versions of this publication

Versions of this publication released before 16 March 2020 may be found on the Data and Intelligence, Health Protection Scotland or Improving Health websites.

Last updated: 21 March 2024
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