Prostate cancer Quality Performance Indicators
Patients diagnosed from July 2018 to June 2021

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.

NHS Scotland performance against prostate quality performance indicators for Jul 18 to Jun 21. QPI 2 : 95% target met in 18/19 and 19/20. QPI was not established in 18/19. QPI 2(ii) : 95% target met in 18/19. QPI was not established in 19/20 or 20/21. QPI 4(i) : 95% target met in 19/20 and 20/21 but not in 18/19. QPI 4(ii) : 95% target met in 20/21 but not in 18/19 or 19/20. QPI 5 : <20% target met in 18/19 and 20/21 but not in 19/20. QPI 7(i) : 95% target not met throughout. QPI 7(ii) : 40% target not met throughout. QPI 8 : 50% target not met in 19/20 or 20/21. QPI was not established in 18/19. QPI 11 : 95% target not met in 19/20 or 20/21. QPI was not established in 18/19. QPI 14(i) : 95% target not met in 19/20 but met in 20/21. QPI was not established in 18/19. QPI 14(ii) : 95% target not met in 19/20 or 20/21. QPI was not established in 18/19. QPI 15(i) : 95% target not met in 19/20 or 20/21. QPI was not established in 18/19. QPI 15(ii) : 60% target not met in 19/20 or 20/21. QPI was not established in 18/19.

Close

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 Cancer QPIs dashboard is restricted and may be accessed with permission via https://useraccess.nhsnss.scot.nhs.uk
• Network Reports on Prostate QPIs: NCA, SCAN and WoSCAN. These reports contain additional commentary on performance against the QPIs.
• QPI Definitions and updates on Prostate Cancer indicators
• PHS QPI Publications

The next release of this publication will be December 2025.