1.1 Introduction

During 2007 the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit led a number of linked initiatives on behalf of the UK Association of Cancer Registries (UKACR) to facilitate the development of an internet enabled National Cancer Information Service (NCIS) due to be launched in October 2008. These initiatives will provide consistent baseline information needed for the production of cancer statistics required in the Cancer Reform Strategy.

1.2 Time Series Population Denominators 1981-2006

Cancer Registries in England and Wales now have access to a unique consistent time series population denominator dataset for five-year age-sex groups at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) level for all years 1981 - 2006. This dataset collates annually adjusted population estimates for 2002 -2006 supplied by Office for National Statistics under a Microdata Release Data Access Agreement with historic population estimates adjusted to LSOA boundaries by Paul Norman, University of Leeds, for all years 1981-2001. Populations for all current higher area geographies are built from this dataset.

1.3 Cancer Network Geography

Networks of cancer care were identified in the Calman Hine Report 1995 as the organisational model for delivering improvements in cancer services. Initially 34 Cancer Networks were developed for England as part of the NHS Cancer Plan 2000 to bring together health service providers and commissioners of cancer care at all levels in the health service. Following a number of local realignments there are now 30 Cancer Networks in England; Wales have established 3 similar organisations.

As part of the development process of the NCIS Cancer Networks were identified as a crucial geography for which cancer statistics should be routinely provided. To be consistent with cancer registry statistics UKACR have identified the geographical extent of each cancer network in terms of resident populations. These extents have been agreed with the Directors of the Cancer Networks and the Department of Health Cancer Action Team. A national boundary set is produced from aggregations of LSOAs. The first annual review of Cancer Network boundaries will be carried out early in 2009.

Map 1.1: Cancer Networks in England and Wales

Cancer Networks in England and Wales

1.4 Development of the NHS Postcode Directory (NHS PD)

The inclusion of a Cancer Network field and a Cancer Registry field in the NHS PD further supports the collection and provision of cancer information throughout the health service. Like the Cancer Network field the Cancer Registry field in the NHS PD will indicate the resident populations included in each cancer registry database in terms of whole LSOAs. Supported by the NHS Information Centre these fields will appear for the first time in the August 2008 release of the NHS PD.

1.5 Access to Digital Map Data by NHS Organisations

Following numerous extensions to the Ordnance Survey (OS) Pilot NHS (England) Agreement the NHS Information Centre awarded a new procurement contract to Dotted Eyes, Bromsgrove starting 1st May 2008. All NHS organisations may now purchase licenses for geographical data through the NHS Digital Mapping Agreement.
All users should be aware that any maps published before 30th April 2008 under the Ordnance Survey pilot agreement may continue to be used in their published state, as would happen in any other published report. However any use of OS data supplied under the pilot agreement should cease immediately. To continue to use digital map data all NHS organisations should register under the new arrangements. Both the NHS Information Centre and Dotted Eyes websites provide information on how this should be done, see:

http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/population-and-geography/nhs-digital-mapping-agreement

and 

http://www.dottedeyes.co.uk/sectors/health_care/index.php

References:

1. Department of Health. The NHS Cancer Plan. 2000.
   
   
2. Department of Health. Cancer Reform Strategy. 2007.
   
   
3. The Expert Advisory Group on Cancer to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales. Calman Hine Report. 1995.