National Clinical Dataset Development Programme
Updated March 2008
The Scottish Cancer Group supports the development of Cancer Pathology Data Standards for NHS Scotland in order to ensure a national approach to the collection of pathological data items relating to cancer. The aim is to ensure inter-compatibility of national clinical information systems, and support the implementation of an electronic integrated health record.
The Cancer Pathology Data Standards will:
- Define common data items recommended for collection in a wide variety of clinical settings
- Support the exchange of patient information between healthcare providers
- Support the consistent recording of patient information throughout NHS Scotland
It is important to emphasise that these are data standards rather than a dataset. This means that the individual data items included in this document are not required to be recorded together in a single clinical information system. However where it is considered appropriate to record a particular data item as part of the record of care, the information should be recorded in accordance with the nationally agreed standard.
All of the current cancer standards are available at:
http://www.datadictionaryadmin.scot.nhs.uk/isddd/11120.html