Cancer Registration & Information Service

Overview

The geographic boundaries within which the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit (WMCIU) operates are coterminous with those of the Government Office for the West Midlands and the Strategic Health Authority. The West Midlands health region has a population of around 5.3 million, which is approximately one tenth of the population of England and Wales. 17 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services. Cancer services are organised through 3 Cancer Networks (Arden, Greater Midlands and Pan Birmingham) within the boundaries of the West Midlands and another 2 (Derby/Burton and 3 Counties) include populations outside of the West Midlands. The WMCIU records information about patients resident and/or diagnosed and treated in this area.

Registration & Data Quality

The WMCIU receives notification of almost 40,000 new cases of cancer each year. The WMCIU’s cancer registration database now holds in excess of 1.2 million records. The WMCIU currently operates a paper based registry and receives data regularly from 28 acute hospitals, 17 private hospitals, 9 hospices and some community hospitals. The WMCIU's registration and data quality teams ensure this information is entered on to the database in a timely and accurate manner. Click here to learn more about cancer registration.

Research & Information

The cancer registration database is utilised for the production of cancer surveillance data, service planning and for research purposes. To find out more click here.

To view a fact sheet explaining how we use cancer registration data click here.