Table 1 Study participants' awareness and use of nationally available data sources.
From: Use of comparative data for integrated cancer services
| Â | Â | Aware of | Use | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Data source | Characteristics | No. participants | % | No. participants | % |
Cancer Waiting Times Database | Times for patients referred by general practitioners as 'urgent' (216 hospitals) | 68 | 100 | 66 | 97 |
Cancer Registry | National linkage of cancer registration with death certificates | 68 | 100 | 63 | 92 |
Hospital Episodes Statistics | Routine data on NHS patients – 12 million episodes per year | 67 | 98 | 45 | 66 |
Cancer Standards Peer Review | One-off survey to assess standards in 110 cancer 'units' and 46 'centres' | 64 | 94 | 40 | 58 |
National Cancer Patient Survey | Sample survey of patients discharged from 172 acute hospital services | 56 | 82 | 40 | 58 |
Minimum Dataset for Palliative Care | Staffing and activity of palliative services | 49 | 72 | 19 | 27 |
Healthcare Commission Acute Hospital Portfolio | Staffing and facilities in 188 NHS hospital trusts | 41 | 60 | 8 | 12 |