Head and neck cancer Quality Performance Indicators
Patients diagnosed between April 2018 and March 2021

About this release

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

Main points

• There were 1,182 people diagnosed with Head & Neck Cancer in Scotland from April 2020 to March 2021. This was an increase from April 2019 to March 2020 where 1,143 people were diagnosed but a reduction from April 2018 to March 2019 (1,243 people diagnosed).
• At Scotland level for April 2020 to March 2021, the target was met for 11 of the 19 indicators.

NHS Scotland performance against head & neck quality performance indicators for Apr 18 to Mar 21. QPI 1 : 95% target met throughout. QPI 2(i) : 95% target met in Apr 18 - Mar 19 and Apr 20 - Mar 21 but not met in Apr 19 - Mar 20. QPI 2(ii) : 95% target met throughout. QPI 3 : 95% target met throughout. QPI 4 : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 5(i) : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 5(ii) : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 6 : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 7 : 90% target not met throughout. QPI 8 : <10% target met in Apr 18 - Mar 19 and Apr 19 - Mar 20 but not met in Apr 20 - Mar 21. QPI 9 : 95% target met throughout. QPI 10 : 55% target not met throughout. QPI 11(i) Chemoradiotherapy: <5% target met throughout. QPI 11(i) Radical Radiotherapy: <5% target met throughout. QPI 11(i) Surgery: <5% target met throughout. QPI 11(ii) Chemoradiotherapy: <5% target met throughout. QPI 11(ii) Radical Radiotherapy: <5% target met in Apr 19 - Mar 20 and Apr 20 to Mar 21 but not met in Apr 18 - Mar 19. QPI 11(ii) Surgery: <5% target met throughout. QPI 12 : 15% target not met throughout.

Close

• Some of the QPI targets have proved challenging to achieve over the three years (Smoking Cessation, Oral and Dental Rehabilitation, Nutritional Screening, Specialist speech and language access, Post Operative Chemoradiotherapy and Clinical Trials).
• It is reassuring however that several QPIs achieved the target nationally (QPIs relating to Pathological Diagnosis, Imaging, Multi-Disciplinary team meeting, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy and 30/90 day mortality).
• Following a national formal review of Head & Neck Cancer QPIs in late 2021, there will be numerous changes to existing QPIs in future years.

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 https://useraccess.nhsnss.scot.nhs.uk
• Network Reports on Head & Neck QPIs: NCA, SCAN, WoSCAN
• QPI Definitions and updates on Head & Neck Cancer indicators
• PHS QPI Publications

The next release of this publication will be May 2025.