October 2024

Each month we share the latest news from the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) including recent publications, data releases and upcoming events. 

NDRS is part of NHS England and includes the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) and the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS).  NDRS uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. This data is used to detect changes in the health of the population and to help the NHS improve the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

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NHS News

Change NHS: a health service fit for the future

NHS staff are working harder than ever to get services back on track, to get waiting lists down and consistently deliver the best care.

We know change is needed. But we also know that many of the solutions we need are already here, working somewhere in the NHS today.

The NHS in England needs data and insights to achieve its purpose to deliver high-quality services for all. As data and analytics professionals, your voice count.

Whether you have a little to say or a lot, your views, experiences and ideas will shape immediate steps and long-term changes: a new 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to set the NHS on a path for the future. Together we can fix it. We need your voice.

Go to change.nhs.uk to find out how you can take part

Latest Publications

Paper published on factors affecting Prostate Cancer Detection through asymptomatic PSA testing in Primary Care

This month we published a paper on factors affecting prostate cancer detection through asymptomatic PSA testing in primary care in England: Evidence from the 2018 National Cancer Diagnosis Audit. It showed that around one in five patients with prostate cancer in England are diagnosed after asymptomatic PSA testing in primary care, with a 13-fold variation in asymptomatic PSA detection between GP practices. 

Variation in Primary Care Investigations Before Cancer Diagnosis

Last week we published a paper on the variation in the use of primary care-led investigations prior to a cancer diagnosis: analysis of the National Cancer Diagnosis Audit, with an accompanying editorial. 56% of patients had at least one investigation, but this varied more than four-fold between practices – increasing after case-mix adjustment. 

SYMPLIFY study publication

NDRS is a data partner for several studies that are evaluating the use of the GRAIL developed Galleri multi cancer early detection blood test. One of these, the SYMPLIFY study used a dual approach of using NDRS data (and the Welsh cancer registry data) for the study, alongside employing staff to do on-site data collection.

This month the SYMPLIFY team published a paper on the validity and timeliness of cancer diagnosis data collected during a prospective cohort study and reported by the English and Welsh cancer registries: a retrospective, comparative analysis in the Lancet Oncology. The paper reports similar completeness of data fields, concordance, and timeliness between on-site and centrally collected cancer outcomes data. The findings suggest that central cancer registry data - like that provided by NDRS - can help alleviate the resource burden in clinical trials and improve cancer research. This is an important finding, and further underscores the value and importance of what we do in NDRS.  

Data releases and tools

Cancer Registration Statistics, 2022 report published

Earlier this month NDRS published the Cancer Registration Statistics, 2022 report. This publication reports on newly diagnosed cancers registered in England during 2022 and is an Accredited Official Statistic. It includes a summary report showing key findings, spreadsheet tables with more detailed estimates, and a methodology document.

Cancer registration estimates are provided for:

1. Incidence of cancer using groupings that incorporate both the location and type of cancer by combinations of gender, age, deprivation, and stage at diagnosis (where appropriate) for England, former Government office regions, Cancer alliances and Integrated care boards.
2. Incidence and mortality (using ICD-10 3-digit codes) by gender and age group for England, former Government office regions, Cancer alliances and Integrated care boards.

New Atlas Highlights Health Variation in Head and Neck Cancer in England

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities published the first Atlas of health variation in head and neck cancer in England on 22 October. This is available on the atlas of health variation in head and neck cancer in England website.

This atlas brings together incidence, mortality, route to diagnosis and stage of diagnosis data for head and neck cancer diagnoses between 2013 and 2020, provided by NDRS, as well as presenting data on risk factors for head and neck cancers.

The atlas aims to identify opportunities and enhance efforts to minimise variation and improve outcomes from head and neck cancer through improved prevention, recognising who is at risk and better diagnosis of people with early stage cancer.

Current Vacancies

Part-time clinical secondment to NDRS - Fetal Cardiologist Clinical Lead - 12 months Fixed term contract

We are looking to recruit an outstanding individual to be Paediatric Cardiology Specialist Advisor for the NDRS in England and work in partnership with NHSE: 

• fixed-term contract with flexible working options
• funding for 0.05 WTE (1 session per fortnight)
• administrative support and travel expense reimbursement
• initial 12-month appointment with potential extension

Application Process: Submit a CV and Expression of Interest to Sarah Stevens, Deputy Director for NDRS by Friday, 29 November 2024.

For more information, please visit the NDRS website for more information about this vacancy.