Prostate cancer Quality Performance Indicators
Patients diagnosed from July 2021 to June 2024

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 cancer of the prostate. The aim of the indicators is to ensure that efforts to improve treatment are focussed on improving 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 prostate cancer (see full list of included anatomical sites in the PHS data definitions document) between July 2021 and June 2024.

Main points

• The numbers of patients included in these cancer audit records increased year-on-year:
  • 5,677 patients diagnosed between July 2023 and June 2024
  • 5,353 patients diagnosed between July 2022 and June 2023
  • 4,434 patients diagnosed between July 2021 and June 2022

It is possible that the media attention on public figures during this reporting period has prompted an increase in the number of men diagnosed. These figures provide basic context for the performance results presented below. A statistical analysis of incidence can be found in Cancer Incidence in Scotland - to December 2023.

• At Scotland level for July 2023 to June 2024, two of the 11 improvement targets were met.
• Almost all of the QPI targets have proved challenging to achieve over the three years. Regional network audit reports discuss reasons for this and set out planned improvement actions - see the reports linked in the background section.
• QPI 2 has been archived as the Health Boards consistently exceeded the target.
• The target for QPI 5 was met in July 2022 to June 2023 and was narrowly missed in July 2023 to June 2024.
• Definitions of several indicators were amended after June 2022 following agreement through consultation. The new indicators are no longer comparable with previous years. These revised QPIs are displayed on separate rows (e.g. QPI 7i, 7ii, 8i and 11).
• Two of the targets have been met throughout (4i and 14i).
• Encouragingly, improvements have been observed in QPIs 7i, 7ii, 14i and 15i.
• See the separate PDF for QPI 6 Volume of Cases per Surgeon, which shows the number of radical prostatectomies performed in Scotland each year, measured against the best practice standard.

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

As QPI publications cover a three-year period, this publication's next release is December 2028.