HC Deb 23 June 1994 vol 245 cc300-1W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will identify those elements of the NHS executive dataset health service indicators which relate to measurement of clinical effectiveness.

Dr. Mawhinney

The health service indicators dataset contains over 500 indicators covering a wide range of national health service activities. Many of the indicators are related to clinical effectiveness, for example, indicators relating to "The Health of the Nation", outcomes, mortality and hospital activity can be used in conjunction with other relevant sources of information to examine the question of clinical effectiveness. Copies of the health service indicators are available in the Library.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is available on the clinical performance and effectiveness of different treatment centres in relation to the most common cancers.

Mr. Sackville

In contracting for cancer services health authorities will wish to assess the performance of hospitals and other providers of cancer services. Comparative data are not available centrally.

The recently published consultative document entitled "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services" recommends that cancer registration and careful monitoring of treatment and outcomes is essential. Copies of the document will be placed in the Library.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measurements currently exist to audit the clinical performance of GPs; how these are implemented and with what consequences; and what further measures are proposed.

Dr. Mawhinney

As independent practitioners, general practitioners review their own performance through the process of clinical audit. Our view is that audit priorities are best determined locally by individual GP practices, in the light of local requirements. To assist this, we have made funds available through family health services authorities in each year since 1991 to enable all practices to participate in clinical audit.

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