Melanoma cancer Quality Performance Indicators
Patients diagnosed between July 2018 and June 2021

About this release

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

Main points

• There were 1,224 people diagnosed with Melanoma Cancer in Scotland from July 2020 to June 2021. This was a decrease from previous years (1,292 people were diagnosed from July 2019 to June 2020 and 1,289 people were diagnosed from July 2018 to June 2019).
• At Scotland level for July 2020 to June 2021, the target was met for six of the 14 indicators.

NHS Scotland performance against melanoma quality performance indicators for Jul 18 to Jun 21. QPI 1(i) : 90% target met throughout. QPI 1(ii) : 90% target not met in Jul 18 - Jun 19 but met in Jul 19 - Jun 20 and Jul 20 - Jun 21. QPI 2 : 90% target met throughout. QPI 3 : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 4 : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 5 : 95% target met throughout. QPI 6 : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 7(i) : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 7(ii) : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 8 : 75% target met throughout. QPI 9 : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 10 : 60% target met throughout. QPI 12 : 85% target not met throughout. QPI 13 : 15% target not met throughout.

Close

• Some of the QPI targets have proved challenging to achieve over the three years (QPIs relating to MDT, Examination of Draining Lymph Node Basins, Wide Local Excisions, Time to Wide Local Excisions, Imaging for Patients with advanced Melanoma, Surgical Margins and Clinical Trials).
• It is reassuring however that several QPIs achieved the target nationally (QPIs relating to Diagnostic Biopsy, Pathology Reporting, Sentinel Node Biopsy Pathology, B RAF Status and Systematic Therapy).
• Following a national formal review in late 2021, there will be changes to Melanoma QPIs in future years. Formal reviews help identify where problems in the pathway lie, with a view to a longer term improvement in performance.

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 Melanoma QPIs: NCA, SCAN, WoSCAN
• QPI Definitions and updates on Melanoma Cancer indicators
• PHS QPI Publications

The next release of this publication will be June 2025.