June 10, 2013

Surgical Outcomes Data – what are we to make of it?

This summer the surgical profession will for the first time begin publishing data around the individual performance of surgeons across a wide range of operations. Since 2005, data on mortality rates for cardiac surgery units and individuals has been published following recommendations from the Bristol heart scandal inquiry of the mid-1990s. This will be a landmark event when ten specialties (nine involving surgeons and one cardiologists) publish key outcomes from their operations including measures that matter to patients such as reoperation rates, activity levels and complications.   

However data on such a large scale present huge challenges along with the obvious benefits, so this briefing allowed science and health journalists to get to grips with some of the complexities of this new system before its introduction.

Speakers:

Professor Norman Williams – Royal College of Surgeons

Dr David Cromwell – London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Mr Martyn Porter – British Orthopaedic Association

Professor Julian Scott – Vascular Society