Colorectal cancer quality performance indicators (QPIs)
Patients diagnosed from April 2019 to March 2022

About this release

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

Main points

• There were 3,790 people diagnosed with Colorectal cancer in Scotland from April 2021 to March 2022. This is an increase on previous years (2,874 diagnosed from April 2020 to March 2021 and 3,555 from April 2019 to March 2020).
• The reductions in April 2020 to March 2021 numbers are likely to be due to lockdown and social distancing measures implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS Scotland performance against colorectal quality performance indicators for Apr 19 to Mar 22. QPI 1(i): 95% target met throughout. QPI 1(ii): 95% target met throughout. QPI 2: 95% target met in 19/20 but not met in 20/21 or 21/22. QPI 3: 95% target met in 19/20. QPI no longer in use in 20/21 or 21/22. QPI 4: 95% target met in 19/20. QPI no longer in use in 20/21 or 21/22. QPI 5: 90% target met throughout. QPI 6: 90% target not met in 19/20. QPI no longer in use in 20/21 or 21/22. QPI 7(i): 95% target met throughout. QPI 7(ii): 85% target met throughout. QPI 8: <10% target met throughout. QPI 9(i): <5% target met throughout. QPI 9(ii): <10% target met throughout. QPI 10(i): 30 day <3% target met throughout. QPI 10(i): 90 day <4% target met throughout. QPI 10(ii): 30 day <15% target met throughout. QPI 10(ii): 90 day <20% target met throughout. QPI 11: QPI not in use in 19/20 or 20/21. 70% target met in 21/22. QPI 12(ii): 30 day <1% target met throughout. QPI 12(ii): 90 day <1% target met throughout. QPI 12(iii): 30 day <1% target met throughout. QPI 12(iii): 90 day <1% target not met in 19/20 but met in 20/21 and 21/22. QPI 15(i): QPI not in use in 19/20 or 20/21. 95% target not met in 21/22. QPI 15(ii): QPI not in use in 19/20 or 20/21. 95% target not met in 21/22. QPI 16(i): QPI not in use in 19/20 or 20/21. 95% target not met in 21/22. QPI 16(ii): QPI not in use in 19/20 or 20/21. 90% target not met in 21/22.

Close

Colorectal QPIs

• At Scotland level for April 2021 to March 2022, the target was met for 17 of the 22 indicators.
• Excellent performance was seen in the majority of QPIs. Levels of mortality following surgical resection and neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy / radiotherapy within 30 and 90 days were reassuringly low for all three years.
• Performance against QPI 2 dropped in the last two years due to changes in the timescale within which imaging is required. Consequently, this QPI was not met at a national level with performance well below the target of 95%.
• Two new QPIs were reported for the first time in 21/22 and these have been challenging to meet. QPI 15 focuses on the referral of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer liver metastases to a HPB MDT. It is likely that this QPI will be challenging to meet in the future. QPI 16 focuses on MMR/MSI testing of patients and referral to genetics. Amendments have since been made to the definition for specification (ii) to take into account MLH1 promoter methylation testing and as such performance is anticipated to improve in future.
• 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

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 Cancer QPIs dashboard is restricted and may be accessed with permission via User Access System (NHS NSS)
• Network Reports on Colorectal QPIs: NCA, SCAN and WoSCAN
• QPI Definitions and updates on Colorectal Cancer indicators
• PHS QPI Publications

The next release of this publication will be June 2026.