We have published the annual screening data for the non-cancer key performance indicators (KPIs) for the 2016 to 2017 screening year (1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017).
The 21 KPIs are used to measure how the 8 non-cancer NHS screening programmes are performing and aim to give a high level overview of programme quality.
Each KPI has 2 performance thresholds. The achievable threshold is the level at which the programme is likely to be running optimally. The acceptable threshold is the lowest level programmes are expected to attain to ensure patient safety and programme effectiveness. KPIs are defined as small number KPIs if the number of individuals counted by the measure is less than 5.
The annual data file includes only providers where there was a valid submission for each quarter.
Antenatal KPIs
All 6 of the published antenatal KPIs saw an improvement compared to the 2015 to 2016 screening year (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016).
The biggest improvement was seen in ID2 (the small number KPI for timely assessment of women with hepatitis B), which increased from 73.4% to 80.3%. However, the definition also changed during the year so that it only counts women newly diagnosed or previously known with high infectivity markers.
Antenatal coverage for HIV screening (ID1) and sickle cell and thalassaemia screening (ST1) reached their highest ever performance at 99.5% and 99.3% respectively.
For the first time, the national performance of FA1 (laboratory form completion for the fetal anomaly screening programme) was above the acceptable threshold at 97.4%.
Newborn KPIs
Improvements were seen in both the KPIs for newborn hearing screening. Coverage (NH1) increased slightly from 98.2% to 98.4% and the timely assessment for referrals (small number KPI NH2) saw an improvement from 87.2% to 88.8%, although this is still below the acceptable threshold of 90.0%.
The newborn blood spot KPI for avoidable repeat tests (NB2) also saw an improvement with national performance decreasing from 3.6% to 2.9% (for NB2, a lower percentage represents a better performance).
We don’t currently recommend using the newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) KPIs (NP1 and NP2) as performance measures. Rollout of the national screening management and reporting tools (NIPE SMART) system continues and the national NIPE programme is working with screening providers to improve data quality.
AAA and diabetic eye screening KPIs
For diabetic eye screening, DE1 (uptake of routine digital screening event) and DE2 (results issued within 3 weeks) did not show an improvement over the screening year. However, they remain consistently above the achievable thresholds, with performance at 82.2% and 96.5% respectively.
Performance of the small number KPI for timely assessment for R3A screen positives (DE3) dropped from 79.8% to 75.4%.
Across the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) KPIs, performance of AA1 (completeness of offer) reached its highest ever performance at 99.3%, meeting the achievable threshold of 99.0% for the first time. In the first year of data reporting for the 3 new coverage KPIs for AAA, national performance was above the acceptable thresholds and below the achievable thresholds.
Table 1: Annual KPI data 2015 to 2016, and 2016 to 2017
| KPI code | KPI description | Acceptable threshold | Achievable threshold | 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 national average | 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 national average |
| ID1 | HIV coverage1 | ≥ 95.0 | ≥ 99.0 | 99.1 | 99.5 |
| ID2 | Hepatitis B referral | ≥ 70.0 | ≥ 90.0 | 73.4 | 80.3 |
| FA1 | Laboratory form completion | ≥ 97.0 | = 100 | 96.8 | 97.4 |
| FA2 | Coverage of 18+0 to 20+6 ultrasound2 | ≥ 90.0 | ≥ 95.0 | - | - |
| ST1 | Coverage | ≥ 95.0 | ≥ 99.0 | 99.1 | 99.3 |
| ST2 | Timeliness of test | ≥ 50.0 | ≥ 75.0 | 51.8 | 53.1 |
| ST3 | Completion of FOQ1 | ≥ 95.0 | ≥ 99.0 | 96.8 | 97.3 |
| NH1 | Coverage3 | ≥ 97.0 | ≥ 99.5 | 98.2 | 98.4 |
| NH2 | Assessment with 4 weeks3 | ≥ 90.0 | ≥ 95.0 | 87.2 | 88.8 |
| NP1 | Coverage (newborn)4 | ≥ 95.0 | ≥ 99.5 | 94.9 | 93.5 |
| NP2 | Timely assessment of DDH4 | ≥ 95.0 | = 100 | 41.1 | 37.4 |
| NB1 | Coverage (CCG responsibility at birth) | ≥ 95.0 | ≥ 99.9 | 95.6 | 96.5 |
| NB2 | Avoidable repeat tests | ≤ 2.0 | ≤ 0.5 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
| NB4 | Coverage (movers in)5 | ≥ 95.0 | ≥ 99.9 | - | 87.1 |
| DE1 | Uptake of routine digital screening event | ≥ 70.0 | ≥ 80.0 | 83.0 | 82.2 |
| DE2 | Results issued within 3 weeks of screening | ≥ 70.0 | ≥ 95.0 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| DE3 | Timely assessment for R3A screen positive | ≥ 80.0 | - | 79.8 | 75.4 |
| AA1 | Completeness of offer | ≥ 90.0 | ≥ 99.0 | 98.8 | 99.3 |
| AA2 | Coverage of initial screen5 | ≥ 75.0 | ≥ 85.0 | - | 78.7 |
| AA3 | Coverage of annual surveillance screen5 | ≥ 85.0 | ≥ 95.0 | - | 91.1 |
| AA4 | Coverage of quality surveillance screen5 | ≥ 85.0 | ≥ 95.0 | - | 92.7 |
1: ID1 and ST3 thresholds changed in 2016 to 2017. Acceptable from 90.0% to 95.0% and achievable from 95.0% to 99.0%.
2: FA2 was introduced in 2016 to 2017. The data was collected but not published during the first year of this KPI.
3: NH1 and NH2 thresholds changed in 2016 to 2017. NH1 acceptable from 95.0% to 97.0%, NH2 achievable from 100% to 95.0%.
4: We do not currently recommend using NP1 or NP2 as a performance measure because of concerns about data quality
5: NB4, AA2, AA3, AA4 were introduced in 2015 to 2016. During the first year of these KPIs the data was collected but not published.
Check out the full data
Please see the published file for the full dataset of the annual data and completeness of data by provider and region.
Any queries, suggestions or feedback about the KPIs should be directed to our PHE Screening Helpdesk (phe.screeninghelpdesk@nhs.net).
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