Cancer Intelligence - Avon Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer Services

In order to navigate around the Cancer Intelligence section you can either click the links in the table below or use the scroll down bar on the right hand side of the screen.

1. The role of the South West Cancer Intelligence Service (SWCIS) as a cancer registry.

South West Cancer Intelligence Service (SWICS) is the cancer registry for the South West of England, Hampshire and Isle of Wight.  It was created in 1995, incorporating work previously carried out through the Wessex Cancer Intelligence Unit, the South Western Cancer Registry and the Cancer Epidemiology Unit of the University of Bristol. It merged with the South West Public Health Observatory in 2005.

Its purpose is to create and maintain a comprehensive, accurate, timely and accessible register of cancers.  Cancer registration is the process of recording all relevant details concerning cancer, including diagnosis, treatment and death. It is achieved with a systematic collection of data on the occurrence and characteristics of malignant and certain non-malignant neoplasms. The procedure is widely established throughout the world and within England and Wales there are 8 registries collating and forwarding data to the Office of National Statistics (ONS)

The collection of data at SWCIS is heavily automated and they currently handle over 80,000 records for each diagnosis year in the cancer registration process.  SWCIS collate data from multiple sources which include NHS Trusts, Pathology, Neuropathology, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Haematology, Somerset Cancer Register, Clearnet (PAS) and GP Notes, further information can be found at http://www.swpho.nhs.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=136

The data is used for the following:

• management of resources for prevention, diagnosis and treatment
• commissioning and evaluating services, including screening programmes
• planning and evaluating clinical management and treatment (including clinical audit)
• research into causes of, and survival from, cancer
• education of professionals and public.

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2. The role of SWCIS as an information service?

The SWCIS Information Service is run by the Cancer Analysis Team who analyse the data collected by the Cancer Registry to produce information and statistics on cancer within the South West, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight areas and to provide a regional Clinical Audit Function.

They produce regular reports on cancer epidemiology that can be used by regional organisations to monitor trends in cancer incidence, mortality and survival.  Cancer incidence is the number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, and cancer mortality is the deaths from cancer.

Part of the Cancer Analysis Team’s function is to respond to requests for specific information and analyses of cancer registry data. Most requests are from health professionals based in NHS hospitals, Primary Care Trusts, Cancer Networks and Health Authorities, but information may also be provided to other interested parties according to strict confidentiality regulations.

You can make a request for data from SWCIS using the Electronic Data Information Request Form on their website.  

Alternatively below are some data sources and reports produced by SWCIS which may have the data you require without having to submit a request.

• Cancer Quickstats - Cancer Quick Stats provide cancer incidence and mortality statistics for the South West Government Office Region, Strategic Health Authorities in the South West plus Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and for Counties / Unitary Authorities.
• Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Data - Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) is the national statistical data warehouse for England of the care provided by NHS hospitals and for NHS hospital patients treated elsewhere. There are over 400 HES data sets available on the SWCIS website. These consist mainly of tables of data, in Excel spreadsheet format, on hospital admissions.
• Health and Population Data - Here you will find information including the Census 2001, Death rates, Health Outcomes and Health Profiles.
• Cancer Factsheets -  A collection of cancer factsheets that include information regarding risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, stage, treatment, incidence, mortality and survival. 

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 3. The UK Cancer Information System (UKCIS)

The UK Cancer Information System (UKCIS) is a national web-based reporting tool, running across N3 (the NHS national network), providing users access to cancer information for their area.  NCIS offers secure and timely information on cancer incidence, mortality and survival.  It provides comparative views of the information held by the cancer registries of England and allows users to compare their own organisation or local geographies with others.

To get access to the system you must contact the Cancer Registry for your area, which for the South West, Hampshire and Isle of Wight is South West Cancer Intelligence Service.  If you are in this area you need to contact the Cancer Analysis Team and they will send you a form to fill in, which needs to be signed by your organisations Caldicott Guardian.  Once this is done you will be provided with a username and passord which you need to type into the log on screen to get started. SWCIS also provide training once a year on how to use the system and you can find details about when the next event is from the Cancer Analysis Team. 

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4. Other Sources of Cancer Data and Statistics

• National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) - is a UK-wide initiative, working to drive improvements in cancer care and clinical outcomes by improving and using the information collected about cancer patients for analysis, publication and research.  On the website you will find information relating to collecting and using publications on national projects and guidance, you will also find some useful cancer information tools including; Cancer e-Atlas, Cance Equalities Portal, Cancer Mortality profiles, Cancer Commissioning Toolkit, National Cancer Information System.
• UK Cancer e-Atlas - This is an interactive web-based resource which aims to provide health care professionals, commissioners and health service managers with basic information on incidence and mortality for the main types of cancers in men and women.
• Cancer Commissioning Toolkit - This site is aimed at supporting World-class Commissioning of cancer services across the NHS by making information on cancer care in England freely available.  It includes a range of high-level indicators, as well as a number of links to more detailed information, across the patient's journey.  It is aimed at all NHS Organisations who are involved with comissioning of cancer services.  You need to register to use this site.  
• Cancer Research UK Cancer Stats -  Here you will find the latest UK cancer statistics and information on causes, diagnosis, treatment, screening and molecular biology and genetics of cancer.
• Department of Health (DH) - Cancer Waiting Times -  Here you will find information on the waiting times of patients with suspected cancer and those subsequently diagnosed with cancer at NHS Trusts in England.
• Office for National Statistics (ONS) - Here you will find summaries, publications and data on cancer incidence, mortality and survival for the United Kingdom. 
• National Cancer Information System - Is a national web-based reporting tool providing cancer incidence, mortality and survival data, for further information please go to 3. National Cancer Information System on this web page.
• NCIN Cancer Equalities Portal - This portal has been prepared by the National Cancer Intelligence Service (NCIN) and brings together a range of equality metrics, with the aim of informing action to tackle inequalities and measuring progress towards this.  The portal has been launched to support the National Cancer Equalities Initiative's (NCEI) report - Reducing cancer inequality - progress, evidence and making it happen
• National End of Life Care Intelligence Network - End of Life Care Profiles - Here you will find Data and Statistics on end of life care, by Local Authority area in England and broken down by age, gender, place of death and cause of death.
• South West Cancer Intelligence Service - Provide an information service run by the Cancer Analysis Team who produce reports on information and statistics for the South West of England, Hampshire and the Isle of Wright using data produced by their cancer registry service.  They also provide an electronic information request service.  For further information please go to 2. The Roles of SWCIS as a Cancer Information Service on this page.