Highlights: Publication of consultant-level data

As reported last year, the NJR was one of the first ten national audits to publish consultant-level surgeon information.  This was done in partnership with specialist orthopaedic surgical associations under NHS England’s transparency agenda.

Indicators for the first year included the number and types of hip and knee joint replacement procedures undertaken, along with 90-day mortality rates.  These indicators were provided for both surgeons and hospitals.

For 2014/15 these indicators were extended to include the number of ankle, elbow, and shoulder replacement procedures undertaken, looking at a surgeon’s one and three year practice and comparing it to a national average.  In addition to the 90-day mortality indicators for hips and knees, the use of ODEP-rated products for hip replacements was included.  

Consultants are able to preview their data in NJR Clinician Feedback prior to the data being published.  Although the Consultant Outcomes Publication is directed at consultants working in NHS England hospitals, the information provided takes account of surgeons’ private practice and surgeons in Wales and Northern Ireland can opt in, via NJR Clinician Feedback, to have their data published on the website.  

Early in 2015, hospital dashboards were created for the service (www.surgeonhospitalprofile.org.uk). These provide a series of hospital-level indicators.  For hip and knee replacements these include:

  • Patient improvement - Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) scores
  • Patient outcomes – showing 90-day mortality as well as revision outcomes based on all of the data held by the NJR and data for the preceding five years
  • Information about the patients treated at the hospital - including gender, age, BMI, higher risk of medical problems before and after surgery (ASA grade 3+), and those diagnosed with condition other than osteoarthritis
  • Quality of the data submitted to the NJR - including compliance, consent rate, submission of valid NHS number rate, and an indication of the time taken to submit procedure details to the NJR following surgery

Whilst the indicators to be published in 2015 have yet to be finalised, the NJR Steering Committee does not feel that it is appropriate to publish surgeon level revision rates until such time as the data is validated.  The current data quality work being undertaken by the NJR is outlined by the Chairman of the Data Quality Sub-committee in his report.