Standards for Cancer Services
In 2001, the then Clinical Standards Board for Scotland (CSBS), now NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS), set out clinical standards for breast, colorectal, gynaecological (ovarian) and lung cancer. NHS QIS has recently updated these standards to produce a suite of national standards for cancer services. These comprise revisions of four tumour specific clinical standards applicable to bowel, breast, lung and ovarian cancer services.
In addition, standards for core cancer services, which draw together common elements of service provision covered by the clinical standards, and which apply to all cancer services in NHSScotland have been developed. This suite of standards aims to seek out and implement innovative, robust and supportive ways of delivering care, as indicated in the Scottish Government Health Directorates publication, Better Cancer Care: a discussion.
Core Cancer Services Standards
Management of core cancer services (PDF, 150K, 21secs)
Tumour Specific Clinical Standards
22 July 2008 - Updated Lung and Breast cancer standards
Management of breast cancer services (PDF, 408K, 59secs)
Details of document revisions as re-published in July 2008 (PDF, 39K, 9secs)
Management of lung cancer services (PDF, 261K, 38secs)
Details of document revisions as re-published in July 2008 (PDF, 39K, 9secs)
Management of bowel cancer services (PDF, 170K, 23secs)
Management of ovarian cancer services (PDF, 165K, 23secs)
Development of the standards
NHS QIS began revisions of the four original tumour specific cancer standards in 2006, taking into account advice from SGHD and in consultation with NHS organisations.
Under the direction of four working groups established by NHS QIS, a clinical adviser was appointed to each group to oversee the revision of the tumour specific cancer standards. Each group was responsible for the review of the evidence base on which the existing 2001 tumour specific cancer standards were developed, and to revise the standards in light of changes in current best practice and clinical advancements.
This work supported the development of the core cancer standards and drew together common elements of cancer services. This identified three key areas for development within core cancer standards:
- referrals and waiting times
- assessment, care planning and care delivery, and
- communication, information sharing and support.
Following publication of each of the draft standards, consultation was undertaken. During this period professional groups, health service staff, voluntary organisations and individuals were given the opportunity to influence the development of the standards.
Next steps
Having finalised the standards for cancer services NHS QIS will work with the managed clinical networks (MCN) for cancer to support implementation of the standards, whilst taking account of the MCN accreditation process.
Ongoing monitoring of the standards will be a function of the networks with NHS QIS intervening if there were concerns regarding data. Occasional visits may be undertaken by NHS QIS on a regional basis to test the system.
At present, the standards are all available on the NHS QIS website to download, with hard copy available upon request.
See also
Scottish Government Health Directorates. Better cancer care: a discussion. Edinburgh: SGHD; 2008.
Equality & Diversity
NHS QIS is committed to equality and diversity. These documents, and the research on which they are based, have been assessed for any likely impact on the six equality groups defined by age, gender, race/ethnicity, religion/faith, disability and sexual orientation. For further information, an equality and diversity impact assessment report has been provided for each of the cancer standards. Please see below:
Core cancer services EQIA report
Bowel cancer services EQIA report
Breast cancer services EQIA report