A bespoke Welsh colorectal dataset could not only enhance audit engagement in Wales, it has the potential to support real change in patient outcomes
Mr Martyn Evans
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Wales. Every year almost 2,300 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 900 people die from the disease.
Clinical audit can be utilised to promote clinical and MDT engagement and lead to improved services and outcomes for bowel cancer patients. MDTs across health boards in Wales participate in the annual HQiP National Bowel Cancer Audit (NBOCA) along with clinicians across English regions. Whilst there is a clear benefit from participating in such a large UK audit, there may be further benefit in tailoring audit processes, data and analysis to the needs of MDTs, services and patients specifically in Wales, in order to improve outcomes.
Led by Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Martyn Evans, in collaboration with Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU) at Public Health Wales, this project will engage with bowel cancer clinical services across Wales to explore audit enhancement. This work will build on the existing Welsh NBOCA datasets and produce a bespoke Welsh colorectal cancer dataset.
Check back for project updates.