Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
University of Leeds · Academic
In term In term in the September 2026 edition: the latest version runs to 28 February 2027.
- Reference
- DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W
- Current version
- v7.2
- Term of current version
- 22 May 2025 to 28 February 2027
- Start date
- Before 1 September 2019
- Data controller
- Sole Data Controller
- Commercial purposes
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Files released to date
- 460
Why the data was released
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds requires access to NHS England data for the purpose of the following research project: Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP). Cancer registration data from the YSRCCYP is used to carry out a programme of epidemiological and applied health research as set out in the Yorkshire Register protocol.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by the University of Leeds' Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Sole Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed.
The YSRCCYP is a specialist register focusing on tumour registrations diagnosed in the Yorkshire and Humber region since 1974 for patients aged 0-14 years and 1990 for those aged 0-39 years. The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the NCRAS, the latter covered by this Data Sharing Agreement (DSA).
Childhood cancer registration details for those aged 0-15 years are primarily provided via the two Principal Treatment Centres, at Leeds Children’s Hospital and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, with a secondary source being the NCRAS. For 16-39 year olds, these are primarily provided by the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), with secondary sources being Teenage and Young Adult Principal Treatment Centres in Leeds and Sheffield. The NCRAS is also the primary source of information for these children and young people if diagnosed with any subsequent tumours or relapses at any age and living inside or outside the Yorkshire region at the time.
The NHS England dataset also provides data on death registrations for any existing tumour registration since 1974 on an annual basis as part of this annual data extract.
Below is a summary of the YSRCCYP research team’s research plans which include the following objectives:
1) To describe the total burden of physical and mental health hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-39 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 40 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
3) To calculate the risks and costs to the NHS of adverse physical and mental health events requiring hospital admission for survivors of cancer in this age group so that clinicians can provide appropriate follow-up care.
4) To identify the risks of cardio-metabolic disease in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors. Specific risk markers for cardiovascular disease plus metabolic factors associated with metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes will be collected. The study team will also obtain a range of additional biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. This data will facilitate a programme of research assessing the prevalence of endocrine complications and cardiometabolic late effects in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors.
5)i)To identify the impact of cancer treatment on kidney toxicity and mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. In this project researchers aim to enhance the treatment data held in the register through linkage with the national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) dataset and hospital electronic prescribing systems such as ChemoCare*. It is hoped this will enable researchers to compare the chemotherapy doses and intensities given to patients with the same tumour types and see if this has any effect on outcomes including survival and relapse. Researchers may also be able to look at the toxicities experienced by patients by reviewing routine measurements and blood tests collected prior to chemotherapy. From this, researchers may be able to see if any dose modifications were made as a result and again look at whether this had any effect on patient outcome. By comparing patients treated at different hospitals. researchers may, for some tumour types, be able to see whether, and if so how, practices differ between Principal Treatment Centres and peripheral hospitals.
ii) An extension of this project is to look in more detail at the impact of cancer treatments on kidney toxicity. Routine bloods tests and measurements held will be enhanced by the collection of urinary analyses, microbiology results, radioisotope measurements and the prescription of any anti-hypertensive medications. These additional fields will give researchers a greater insight into the kidney toxicity caused.
*Please note, the data added to the YSRCCYP from data sources such as ChemoCare, will never be linked to NHS England at record level. Only aggregated outputs with small numbers suppressed will be compared.
6) To provide contextual information on existing physical and mental health morbidity when evaluating educational and employment outcomes. As part of the ongoing research the study team collect additional information for patients on the register attending the long-term follow-up clinics at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Patients attending these clinics complete a holistic needs assessment which includes the completion of the distress thermometer and a problems check list. These data items are used as a measure of psychological health to assess the prevalence of distress in long term cancer survivors and the associations between patient characteristics and levels of distress.
To address aims 1 and 4, the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and Mental Health data to investigate long term risks of all major morbidity (e.g. cardio-metabolic, respiratory, mental health illness) in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for YSRCCYP members in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 65 at admission (the oldest person currently registered in the database). This separate extract is covered under Agreement DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK.
To address aims 2 and 3 evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total burden of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and mental health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
Rates of admission within the cancer survivors have previously been compared to pseudonymised hospital admission rates to work out standardised hospitalization admission ratios and assess whether these differed according to cancer diagnosis, treatment, ethnic group, gender, age group, period of diagnosis and socioeconomic status, using statistical models adjusting for patient case-mix while also incorporating the general background hospital admission rates. (Althumairi, University of Leeds, 2017). To address aim 3 this process will be repeated using the latest data with a focus on specific disease groups, including cardio-metabolic, kidney disease, anxiety and depression, as well as total physical and mental health morbidity data, using a similar methodology as the YSRCCYP research team’s previously published work on cardiovascular disease, respiratory morbidity and cumulative burden.
Aim 4 will examine the lifelong risk for the development of endocrine complications or adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes attributable to the cancer and/or treatment with a specific focus on these risks in relation to ethnic group and socio-economic status.
Aim 5 will enable the YSRCCYP research team to estimate the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression among the Yorkshire survivorship cohort, whether this risk has changed over time and the points at which it may appear in the survivor's cancer treatment. The key clinical factors which influence the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression will also be identified.
A current research focus is on hospital burden around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population. Using data from March 2020 onwards, the study team will examine any changes in the long-term health risks by identifying those individuals in the cohort who tested positive for Sars-Cov-2 infection.
Aim 6 will provide important clinical information on existing health problems, identified from HES data, when describing educational attainment and employment trajectories for the young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire. Specifically, those with existing health problems will be identified and this information will be taken into account as a potential confounding factor when examining the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes among the entire survivor cohort. Furthermore, the YSRCCYP research team will be able to determine whether the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes are exacerbated for those with pre-existing illness.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a patient’s Covid-19 status and related data (such as date positive status was confirmed and shielding status) are also collected. This enables an analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on cancer treatments for children and young people (such as delays in treatment or non-start of treatments) and long-term health and social outcomes. Also resulting from the changes to working practices in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, data collection is completed remotely where possible. Approval has been obtained from NHS Trusts for remote access to digitalised patient notes.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations. The research will also have the potential to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term health outcomes since March 2020.
This agreement covers the following NHS England (NDRS) datasets to be supplied on an annual basis. (Data previously disseminated under DSA reference DARS-NIC-656761-R6H7W):
The following NHS England Data will be accessed:
• Hospital Episode Statistics
o Admitted Patient Care
o Accident & Emergency
o Outpatients
• Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS)
• Mental Health
• Cancer Registration
• NDRS Cancer Registration
• NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS)
• NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
The level of data will be identifiable - necessary to enable linkage of the data with data collected from other sources within the YSRCCYP (local Patient Managements systems (PPM), HES, National Pupil Database, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). In order to evaluate long-term health and social outcomes. Identifiable data items are essential so that the YSRCCYP data manager can access the right person’s medical records and validate key information such as cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment whilst addressing any missing information.
The data will be minimised as follows:
• Limited to data for the YSRCCYP cohort identified by the University of Leeds, i.e. patients aged 0-14 years diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire & the Humber between 1974-1989 and patients aged 0-39 years since 1990.
• All valid ICD10 codes for cause of death.
• ICD10 codes C00 – C97, D00-D05, D07-D48 for second primary tumours.
The University of Leeds is the research sponsor and the data controller as the organisation responsible for ensuring that the data will only be processed for the purpose described above.
The lawful basis for processing personal data under the UK GDPR is:
Article 6(1)(e) - processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
The lawful basis for processing special category data under the UK GDPR is:
Article 9(2)(j) - processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
This processing is in the public interest because it relates to cancer registration, specifically to examine long-term health and social outcomes for children and young people diagnosed in Yorkshire. Findings will provide information on those groups whose outcomes are worse than their peers and this will be used to inform future decisions over patients’ treatment and care.
The funding is provided by the Candlelighters Trust, Leeds. The funding is specifically for the YSRCCYP cohort described. Funding is in place until 31/5/2027. The funder will have no ability to suppress or otherwise limit the publication of findings.
The YSRCCYP database is currently stored on the University of Leeds's cloud platform called LASER which is provided by Microsoft Limited. It is anticipated The University of Leeds will migrate the data to AIMES Management Services in 2024, to which an amendment to this DSA to update the processor as required will be submitted.
Microsoft Limited provides IT hosting services to the University of Leeds and will store the data as contracted by the University of Leeds. Microsoft Limited also provides IT back up services to the University of Leeds and will store copies of the data as contracted by the University of Leeds.
Data will be accessed by:
• Undergraduate, Masters or PhD students affiliated with the University of Leeds. Any student working with the data held under this Agreement must have completed mandatory data protection and confidentiality training and are subject to the University of Leeds’ policies on data protection and confidentiality. Any students accessing the data will do so under the supervision of a substantive employee of the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds would be responsible and liable for any work carried out by students. These students would only work on the data for the purposes described in this Agreement. Any education benefit gained from carrying out this work would be an associated benefit and would not be the primary reason for the research being conducted nor the primary reason for their involvement.
• An individual from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be working on specific data extracts for their own clinical academic training, holding an honorary contract (visiting title) with the University of Leeds. The honorary contract holder is a junior doctor who requires research experience as part of their clinical academic training in order for them to continue with their career. They will be performing the statistical analysis for the study. An appropriate contract between the individual and the University of Leeds is in place.
Any individual working with the data held under this Agreement must have completed mandatory data protection and confidentiality training and are subject to the University of Leeds’ policies on data protection and confidentiality. Any individuals accessing the data will do so under the supervision of a substantive employee of the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds would be responsible and liable for any work carried out by these individuals. These individuals would only work on the data for the purposes described in this Agreement. Any education or clinical academic benefit gained from carrying out this work would be an associated benefit and would not be the primary reason for the research being conducted nor the primary reason for their involvement.
The YSRCCYP Scientific Advisory Group provides advice on key strategic objectives, monitors progress on these objectives, monitors the quality of the scientific work of the project and provides guidance on complex issues when needed, e.g. the release of sensitive findings. Details of current members can be found on the YSRCCYP website: https://ysrccyp.org.uk/about/scientific-advisory-group/.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Fellow within the YSRCCYP team, has led on the development of two national Public and Patient Information and Engagement workshops in February 2022 and April 2022 in conjunction with DATA-CAN exploring young people’s views on the use of health data for research purposes. This included discussion around cancer registration and data linkage with education and employment datasets. There was strong support from the group in favour of these ongoing research activities and these findings are being written-up for publication later this year. The workshops also helped to inform the research strategy because the late effects of cancer were also one of the young people's research priorities. These young people are also supporting University of Leeds in individual research projects and grant applications.
The NIHR Clinical Research Fellow and the Register Statistician, have also represented the work of the YSRCCYP and Candlelighters’ Trust at the ‘Be Curious’ public engagement event for children and their families held at the University of Leeds in May 2023. This was a huge success with numerous families asking questions about the research and expressing interest about being involved in future Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) events related to the YSRCCYP. There was significant diversity of families attending the event, for example children attended from the Bradford East family hub along with families where English was their second language. This provided University of Leeds with the ability to engage with the harder to reach populations.
Patients are made aware of all data flows through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement which is published on the University of Leeds website. University of Leeds have also engaged with groups such as the GenerationR Young People’s Advisory Group at Leeds General Infirmary where the research from the YSRCYP is disseminated to young people in accessible forms.
Where individuals have opted out of disease registration by the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), their data has been permanently removed from the registry and therefore will not be disseminated under this Data Sharing Agreement (DSA). https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/patients/opting-out
Processing activities
For NDRS linkage, NHS England will provide the relevant records already flagged from the NDRS dataset to the University of Leeds in terms of latest vital status i.e. death registration data, relapse, secondary malignant neoplasms and any subsequent treatment received. NHS England will also provide relevant records on all new cancer registrations aged 0-39 years at diagnosis resident in Yorkshire as well as the same details listed in the previous sentence. NHS England will flow back identifiable data such as NHS number, full name, date of birth, sex and postcode so that University of Leeds can access the right person’s medical records and validate key information such as cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment whilst addressing any missing information. These identifiers are stored and then used to enable data linkage with information collected from other sources such as local Patient Managements systems (PPM), HES, National Pupil Database, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) data as described in the YSRCCYP data flow diagram, as part of the epidemiological research programme to monitor long-term health and social outcomes.
Data will be stored on the ARO secure cloud platform and Leeds Analytic Secure Environment for Research (LASER). LASER is a custom Virtual Research Environment (VRE) based on Microsoft Azure technologies operated by the University of Leeds. LASER uses the Microsoft Azure UK South data centre.
https://lida-data-analytics-team.github.io/laserdocs/docs/laser_info/laser.html.
Backups are handled by Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent and uses a Backup Service Vault, connected to Azure storage services based in the UK and ARO secure cloud platform.
As per the University of Leeds policy data is classified using a data risk tiering system based on the perceived impact of disclosure. All data from projects like the YSRCCYP generally falls within tier 3 or 4. Identifiable data is generally classified as tier 4, i.e. significant impact to University of Leeds, partners or individuals with potential for substantial legal, financial or reputational penalties. Pseudonymised / De-identified data is generally classified as tier 3, i.e. high impact to University of Leeds, partners or data subjects with potential for contractual, commercial, legal, financial or reputational penalties.
Identifiable data is held within a separate VRE that can only be accessed from within a designated safe room onsite at the University of Leeds. Pseudonymised data is held in a separate VRE that can be accessed by authorised personnel remotely. Data ingress and egress of all data is controlled by the LASER Data Analytics Team (DAT). https://lida-data-analytics-team.github.io/laserdocs/docs/lida_services/dat.html. Research staff do not have the ability to copy any dataset to an external device.
The identifiable data will not leave England at any time and the data will not be transferred to any other location.
The Data will be accessed by authorised personnel via remote access. The Data will remain on ARO secure cloud platform and servers at Leeds Analytic Secure Environment for Research (LASER), at all times.
The Controller(s) must confirm and provide evidence upon audit by NHS England that access via any remote device complies with the data security obligations within this DSA and the Data Sharing Framework Contract.
For remote access:
- Remote access will only be from secure locations situated within the territory of use (as further restricted elsewhere within the DSA if so done) stated within this DSA;
- Access controls granting users the minimum level of access required are in place;
- Remote access is only via secure connections (e.g., VPNs or secure protocols) to protect data;
- Multifactor authentication (MFA) is required for remote access;
- Device security, including up-to-date software and operating systems, antivirus software, and enabled firewalls are utilised for the remote access;
- All remote access is undertaken within the scope of the organisation’s DSPT (or other security arrangements as per this agreement) and complies with the organisation’s remote access policy.
Access is restricted to individuals within the YSRCCYP research team at the University of Leeds who have authorisation from the Principal Investigator (PI). All such individuals are substantive employees of the University of Leeds, Undergraduate, Masters or PhD students affiliated with the University of Leeds. An individual from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be working on specific data extracts for their own clinical academic training, holding an honorary contract (visiting title) with the University of Leeds.
Access to each pseudonymised / de-identified dataset held will be restricted to designated YSRCCYP affiliated researchers who have been authorised by either the PI or designated officer. Access to patient identifiable data is restricted to employees of the University of Leeds who are YSRCCYP affiliated. These researchers will have specifically been granted access by the PI dependent on their job role. YSRCCYP researchers can potentially have prepared identifiable datasets in locations within the VRE with bespoke access restrictions to minimise the individuals with access to the full identifiable data held. Individuals with an honorary contract / visiting title act as an agent of the University of Leeds at all times under supervision of University employees.
Access to the core identifiable dataset will be restricted to a minimum number of individuals within the YSRCCYP research team. Research data extracts will be approved by data managers and research statisticians within the team. A data asset log will be maintained documenting the source / code used to produce use, storage location and approved users. All requests are approved by the Principal Investigator via email, which acts as an additional audit trail.
All personnel accessing the data have been appropriately trained in data protection and confidentiality.
Microsoft Limited provide Cloud Services for the University of Leeds Cloud Services for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They supply support to the system, but do not access data. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement. This includes granting of access to the database[s] containing the data.
ARO provide Cloud Services for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They host the YSRCCYP database’s secure cloud infrastructure. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement. This includes granting of access to the database[s] containing the data.
The data will be linked at person record level with datasets obtained from NHS England (NDRS & HES), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (PPM; PROMs), Department for Education (National Pupil Database), Department for Work and Pensions, and HMRC.
The identifying details will be stored in a separate database to the linked dataset used for analysis. All analyses will use the pseudonymised dataset. There will be no requirement and no attempt to reidentify individuals when using the pseudonymised dataset.
Data managers and researchers from the YSRCCYP research team at the University of Leeds will process the data for the purposes described above.
Researchers from the YSRCCYP research team at the University of Leeds will use the relevant subset of data to analyse incidence and survival trends including long-term health and outcomes, as described above.
Expected output
The expected outputs of the processing will be:
• A report of findings to the Candlelighters Trust on an annual basis.
• Submissions to peer reviewed journals, expected to be at least two submissions per year.
• Presentations to the Candlelighters Trust as well as local and regional clinical and research seminars.
• Presentations at Cancer Research UK, National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences.
• Publication of infographics on the YSRCCYP’s website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
• A database to be utilised as a resource for health research.
The outputs will not contain NHS England data and will only contain aggregated information with small numbers suppressed as appropriate in line with the relevant disclosure rules for the dataset(s) from which the information was derived.
The outputs will be communicated to relevant recipients through the following dissemination channels:
• Journals (e.g. BMC Cancer)
• Workshops involving clinicians and researchers working in the childhood and young adult cancer field, e.g. NCRI TYA and Germ Cell tumour Clinical Services Group.
• Webinars open to academic and clinical researchers in the UK.
• Social media
• Posters displayed at Cancer Research UK, CCLG, TYAC and SIOP conferences.
• Patient Information leaflets available at the YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
• Press/media engagement
• Public promotion of the research, e.g. Be Curious event at the University of Leeds.
The target dates for production and dissemination of the outputs are:
• Journals: 2 per year, e.g. germ cell tumour dose intensity paper to be submitted by July 2023, early mortality paper to be submitted by Dec 2024, cardio-metabolic paper to be submitted by Dec 2024. Analyses describing educational outcomes will be submitted for publication by Summer 2025 to the International Journal of Cancer (or similar). Work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific cardio-metabolic disease by Summer 2025. Risks of kidney toxicity will be submitted for publication by Summer 2024 in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar). Risks of anxiety, depression and overall mental health disorders will be submitted for publication by Winter 2025 in the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
• Workshops involving clinicians and researchers working in the childhood and young adult cancer field, e.g. NCRI TYA and Germ Cell tumour Clinical Services Group: 3 per year.
• Webinars open to academic and clinical researchers in the UK: 2 per year.
• Social media: coinciding with each journal publication, 2 per year.
• Posters displayed at Cancer Research UK, CCLG, TYAC and SIOP conferences: 3 per year.
• Patient Information leaflets available at the YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk: ongoing and updated regularly.
• Press/media engagement: coinciding with each journal publication, 2 per year.
• Public promotion of the research, e.g. Be Curious event at the University of Leeds: twice per year.
Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2025. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
The linked NHS England data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2025). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (Summer 2025).
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (www.ysrccyp.org.uk), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
All outputs will be aggregated with small number suppression in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st May 2027. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2027 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Expected measurable benefits
The findings of this research study are expected to contribute to evidence-based decision-making for policy-makers, local decision-makers such as doctors, and patients to inform best practice to improve the care, treatment and experience of health care users relevant to childhood and young adult cancer.
The use of the data could:
• help the system to better understand the health and care needs of the childhood and young adult cancer population in Yorkshire.
• lead to the identification or improvement of treatments or interventions, or health and care system design to improve health and care outcomes or experience.
• advance understanding of regional trends in health and social care needs.
• inform planning health services and programmes, for example to improve equity of access, experience and outcomes for children and young people with cancer.
• provide a mechanism for checking the quality of care. This could include identifying areas of good practice to learn from, or areas of poorer practice which need to be addressed.
Potential benefits could comprise:
• An ability to evaluate changes in risk of death for children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire and determine whether differences exist by ethnic group, deprivation and stage at diagnosis.
• Identify those groups of survivors who are most likely to experience the poorest health and social outcomes so that appropriate interventions and improvements in care quality can be devised.
It is hoped that through publication of findings in appropriate media, the findings of this research will add to the body of evidence that is considered by the bodies, organisations and individual care practitioners charged with making policy decisions for or within the NHS or treatment decisions in relation to childhood and young adult cancer patients and survivors in Yorkshire.
University of Leeds will use multiple channels to disseminate key findings. These will include:
• The Candlelighters Trust Families Group
• The CCLG’s Late Effects Group
• The NCRI CTYA and Germ Cell Tumour Clinical Services Group
• PPIE events such as those organised by the Candlelighters Trust and University of Leeds, e.g. Be Curious.
• International scientific meetings, e.g. SIOP, Global AYA Cancer Congress.
• The YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
The Candlelighters Trust, as the main funder of the YSRCCYP research programme, have been an important source of support in making sure that the outputs are provided in clear formats and at appropriate public meetings
Benefits reported so far
Update provided on 21/12/2023
Multiple peer-reviewed publications describing the epidemiology and long-term outcomes for children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire.
A full list can be found here:
https://ysrccyp.org.uk/research/publications/
Some specific examples:
1) The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them. It has enabled childhood and young adult cancer survivors and their families to understand more about their own risk of developing these longer-term health problems according to their original diagnosis and treatment, and at what age they are most likely to appear. In effect, young cancer patients have been able to take ownership of their own survivorship.
2) The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary of the latest literature relating to late consequences of cancer treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy. This has provided awareness and information to cancer survivors from Yorkshire about reproductive outcomes to enable them to plan fertility storage at the earliest opportunity and maximise the chances of having
their own offspring. Additionally, the identification of a sparsity of evidence on outcomes of ovarian and testicular tissue resulted in establishment of a multi-centre initiative to establish a population based register of individuals with stored ovarian and testicular tissue in the United Kingdom (UK).
3) It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and their relationship to subsequent morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire. This information has been made available to the clinical community in Yorkshire in the form of research papers, regular webinars and infographics so that those health professionals looking after young cancer survivors are able
to inform them of their risks of morbidity depending on their original cancer diagnosis and treatment, and at what age these are likely to be develop.
4) It has allowed researchers to quantify the prevalence and spectrum of mental health problems found in adult survivors of childhood cancer, based on a systematic review of the current evidence. Problems ranged from depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and drug misuse. Factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems included treatment with high-dose anthracyclines, cranial irradiation, diagnoses of sarcoma or central nervous system tumours and ongoing physical ill health. The review recommended further work to identify
childhood cancer patients who are at risk of developing late mental health morbidity.
5)The first comprehensive analysis of hospital mental health episodes following CTYA cancer treatment (Friend, PhD thesis, 2020), preceded by a systematic review of the current evidence (Friend et al, Int J Cancer 2018).
6)The YSRCCYP research team found that the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative paediatric late-effects risk stratification system can be effectively and safely applied to cancer patients aged 18-39, independent of ethnicity or socioeconomic position. This evidence has supported clinical services in Yorkshire and further afield across the UK to safely adopt risk-stratified care pathways for the long term follow up of individuals living with and beyond
cancer.
Datasets on the current version
Legal basis for provision: Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'.
| Dataset | Type of data | Sensitivity | Frequency | Confidential data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer Registration Data | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency | Anonymised - ICO Code Compliant | Non-Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care | Anonymised - ICO Code Compliant | Non-Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients | Anonymised - ICO Code Compliant | Non-Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E) | Identifiable | Non-Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| NDRS Cancer Registrations | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT) | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
Files released
Files released counts only files released externally by DARS. Access granted in NHS England's own systems, such as its Secure Data Environment, is not included.
Patient opt-outs were applied to 408 of the 460 files released under this agreement, across every version. About opt-outs
Files released against version 7.2 of this agreement, summarised by dataset.
| Dataset | Files | First released | Last released | Opt-outs applied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDRS Cancer Registrations | 8 | May 2026 | August 2026 | Yes |
| NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS) | 4 | May 2026 | August 2026 | Yes |
| NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT) | 4 | May 2026 | August 2026 | Yes |
Version history
The register lists each renewal of this agreement as a separate row. This site has 6 versions — earlier versions existed before this site's records begin.
DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v7.2 22 May 2025 to 28 February 2027
- Title
- Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 14
- Files released
- 16
Datasets: Cancer Registration Data; Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS); HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency; HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care; HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients; Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E); Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC); Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP); Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS); Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS); Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS); NDRS Cancer Registrations; NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS); NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
What changed from DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v6.2
Text removed is struck through; text added is underlined. Unchanged paragraphs are summarised rather than repeated.
| Field | Was | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | 2025-05-22 | |
| Cancer Registration Data: legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency: legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care: legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients: legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. | |
| Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261(5)(d); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. |
Datasets:
− Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set
Objective for processing
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
Childhood cancer registration details for those aged 0-15 years are primarily provided
[19 words unchanged]
the NCRAS. For 16-39 year olds, these are primarily provided by the
NCRAS,
National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS),
with secondary sources being Teenage and Young Adult Principal Treatment Centres in
[28 words unchanged]
age and living inside or outside the Yorkshire region at the time.
[19 paragraphs unchanged]
In order to meet the above objectives, The University of Leeds request an update to the following NHS England datasets to be supplied at year 3 within this agreement.
This agreement covers the following NHS England (NDRS) datasets to be supplied on an annual basis. (Data previously disseminated under DSA reference DARS-NIC-656761-R6H7W):
-Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS)
The following NHS England Data will be accessed:
-Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS)
• Hospital Episode Statistics
-Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set
o Admitted Patient Care
-Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC)
o Accident & Emergency
-Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP)
o Outpatients
-Emergency
• Emergency
Care Data Set (ECDS)
-Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E)
• Mental Health
The University of Leeds request an update to the following NHS England (NDRS) datasets to be supplied on an annual basis. (Data previously disseminated under DARS-NIC-656761):
• Cancer Registration
-Civil Registration Mortality – necessary to calculate survival estimates to examine early mortality and long-term trends in survival for the YSRCCYP cohort.
• NDRS Cancer Registration
-NDRS Cancer Registration – necessary to ensure that the YSRCCYP has complete case ascertainment for all patients aged under 40 years in Yorkshire, as well as any subsequent tumours or relapses.
• NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS)
-NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS)
• NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
-NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
The level of data will be identifiable - necessary to enable linkage of the data with data collected from other sources within the YSRCCYP (local Patient Managements systems (PPM), HES, National Pupil Database, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). In order to evaluate long-term health and social outcomes. Identifiable data items are essential so that the YSRCCYP data manager can access the right person’s medical records and validate key information such as cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment whilst addressing any missing information.
The level of data will be identifiable necessary to enable linkage of the data with data collected from other sources within the YSRCCYP (local Patient Managements systems (PPM), HES, National Pupil Database, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). In order to evaluate long-term health and social outcomes. Identifiable data items are essential so that the YSRCCYP data manager can access the right person’s medical records and validate key information such as cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment whilst addressing any missing information.
[18 paragraphs unchanged]
The
NIHR
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Clinical Research Fellow within the YSRCCYP team, has led on the development
[100 words unchanged]
also supporting University of Leeds in individual research projects and grant applications.
The NIHR Clinical Research Fellow and the Register Statistician, have also represented
[38 words unchanged]
questions about the research and expressing interest about being involved in future
PPIE
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)
events related to the YSRCCYP. There was significant diversity of families attending
[25 words unchanged]
Leeds with the ability to engage with the harder to reach populations.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
This contract is reliant on the Data Recipient maintaining the continued support for use of confidential patient information without consent, according to regulations made under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 (20CAG0133).
The study has support under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 to enable the common law duty of confidentiality to be temporarily lifted so that confidential patient information can be processed without consent.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
Processing activities
[1 paragraph unchanged]
For HES linkage, the registration data will flow from University of Leeds back to NHS England and will contain directly identifying data items including NHS Number, Date of Birth, Postcode, and Gender which are required to link the data at record level with data already held by the NDRS. NHS England will then flow back the linked HES data with the YSRCCYP tumour identifier number to University of Leeds.
Data will be stored on the ARO secure cloud platform and Leeds Analytic Secure Environment for Research (LASER). LASER is a custom Virtual Research Environment (VRE) based on Microsoft Azure technologies operated by the University of Leeds. LASER uses the Microsoft Azure UK South data centre.
Data will be stored on Leeds Analytic Secure Environment for Research (LASER), a custom Virtual Research Environment (VRE) based on Microsoft Azure technologies operated by the University of Leeds. LASER uses the Microsoft Azure UK South data centre.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
Backups are handled by Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent and uses a Backup Service Vault, connected to Azure storage services based in the
UK.
UK and ARO secure cloud platform.
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
The Data will be accessed by authorised personnel via remote access. The Data will remain on
the
ARO secure cloud platform and
servers at Leeds Analytic Secure Environment for Research (LASER), at all times.
[12 paragraphs unchanged]
Microsoft Limited provide
Cloud Services for the University of Leeds
Cloud Services for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as
[31 words unchanged]
agreement. This includes granting of access to the database[s] containing the data.
ARO provide Cloud Services for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They host the YSRCCYP database’s secure cloud infrastructure. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement. This includes granting of access to the database[s] containing the data.
[4 paragraphs unchanged]
Expected output
[27 paragraphs unchanged]
The linked NHS
Digital
England
data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key
[135 words unchanged]
risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (Summer 2025).
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
Benefits reported
Update
as
provided on
the annual confirmation report submitted
21/12/2023
[14 paragraphs unchanged]
Unchanged: Expected measurable benefits.
DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v6.2 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2027
- Title
- Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 15
- Files released
- 330
Datasets: Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set; Cancer Registration Data; Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS); HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency; HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care; HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients; Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E); Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC); Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP); Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS); Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS); Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS); NDRS Cancer Registrations; NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS); NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
What changed from DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v5.14
Text removed is struck through; text added is underlined. Unchanged paragraphs are summarised rather than repeated.
| Field | Was | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | 2024-03-01 | |
| End date | 2027-02-28 |
Datasets: + Cancer Registration Data; + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency; + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care; + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients; + NDRS Cancer Registrations; + NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS); + NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds
require record level Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Mental Health
requires access to NHS England
data for
a specific cohort for
the
period from 1996/97 to 2021/22 (or latest available data). The University
purpose
of
Leeds already holds identifiable Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and Mental Health data for this cohort which will be used, alongside data collected in
the
following research project:
Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
(YSRCCYP),
(YSRCCYP). Cancer registration data from the YSRCCYP is used
to
continue its epidemiology
carry out a programme of epidemiological
and
applied
health
services
research
programme.
as set out in the Yorkshire Register protocol.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to
[6 words unchanged]
YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by the University of
Leeds’
Leeds'
Division of Epidemiology
&
and
Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the
Sole
Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed.
The work is currently funded solely by the Candlelighters Trust (https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/). The Candlelighters Trust do not determine how data is collated or processed for the study and will only access data that is aggregated with small numbers suppressed.
The YSRCCYP is a regional population based register containing detailed, record-level demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer and benign central nervous system tumours since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people. The purpose of the YSRCCYP is to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research.
The YSRCCYP is a specialist register focusing on tumour registrations diagnosed in the Yorkshire and Humber region since 1974 for patients aged 0-14 years and 1990 for those aged 0-39 years. The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the NCRAS, the latter covered by this Data Sharing Agreement (DSA).
Historically, cancer registration records have been identified primarily through hospital records involving manual abstraction of information from hospital notes. In recent years, the data controller has established a secure, electronic feed of information from local patient management and pathology systems (including the Patient Pathway Management (PPM) within NHS Trusts across Yorkshire), the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) , as well as primary care datasets, in order to improve the efficiency of the Yorkshire Register data collection. This flow of data is covered under section 251 approval from the HRA CAG to address the common law duty confidence.
Childhood cancer registration details for those aged 0-15 years are primarily provided via the two Principal Treatment Centres, at Leeds Children’s Hospital and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, with a secondary source being the NCRAS. For 16-39 year olds, these are primarily provided by the NCRAS, with secondary sources being Teenage and Young Adult Principal Treatment Centres in Leeds and Sheffield. The NCRAS is also the primary source of information for these children and young people if diagnosed with any subsequent tumours or relapses at any age and living inside or outside the Yorkshire region at the time.
From October 2021 NCRAS became part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) service managed by NHS Digital. Data continues to flow to University of Leeds from the NDRS service, however this a separate flow of data to the data disseminated under this Agreement, and the two sets of data are not linked in any way.
The NHS England dataset also provides data on death registrations for any existing tumour registration since 1974 on an annual basis as part of this annual data extract.
Where data on cancer diagnosis and treatment are missing or incomplete from the electronic data sources, the study team manually abstract information from local hospital notes and patient management systems. The data comprises personal and demographic information (e.g. name, date of birth, address, postcode) along with diagnostic and clinical data on treatment (chemotherapy drugs and doses, radiotherapy site and dose, surgery). More recently, enhanced treatment information on chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be obtained through NCRAS, including the national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT). All data provided form third-party sources are added to the registry at a pseudonymised level. The data provided from NHS Digital is not added to the registry, comparison on participants is made using only a pseudonymised patient ID. No attempt is made to re-identify a participant using either the data from NHS Digital or any data within the registry.
Below is a summary of the YSRCCYP research team’s research plans which include the following objectives:
Data on 12,000 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and mental health data was required for only 9,000, as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under this Agreement will consist of approximately 9,000 patients.
1) To describe the total burden of physical and mental health hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-39 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
The YSRCCYP is a population-based register, inclusion is based on the patient's residential address at diagnosis. Any individuals being treated in Yorkshire hospitals but resident outside the region will be excluded. Those on the register who move away from the Region remain included in case of any follow-up treatment or care. All patient information is retained beyond the age of 30 years for the purpose of tracking their long-term cancer outcomes.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 40 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
The sole data controller is the University of Leeds. The legal basis for dealing with people’s personal data for research data, is ‘task in the public interest’, or in other words, the University are collecting data that they need in order to complete their research, which aims to improve healthcare for the general public. This flow of information falls under GDPR Articles 6(1)(e) and 9(2)(j), and is also covered by the study's section 251 approval from the HRA CAG to permit the common law duty of confidentiality to be temporarily lifted. The justification for processing the data by University of Leeds is Article 6 (1)(e) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for the performance of a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller). The justification for the processing of the special category data (health data) by University of Leeds is Article 9 (2)(j) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
Patients are made aware of all data flows through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement which is published on the University of Leeds website.
The data controller involves members of the public and participants through presentations of results. Feedback from presentations researchers have made to families and cancer survivors, have shown that they are hugely grateful for the Register and research carried out on their behalf. Those attending these presentations felt that they had been sufficiently informed about the research, and are comfortable and supportive of the need to collect and process this data without informed consent.
The YSRCCYP research database has its' own Scientific Advisory Group which includes representation from the following areas – university research, public health, clinical medicine, health care professionals, patients and lay persons. The Advisory Group is responsible for ensuring that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure the physical security of the data and its release. The Advisory group do not access or determine how the data under this Agreement will be used and are therefore not deemed to be data controllers.
The data under this Agreement will be compared with (but not linked with) data on inpatient hospital admissions and Mental Health data for the general population in Yorkshire under the age of 65 derived from the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK). General population data will be compared with a population of the same age range in the cohort who were diagnosed with childhood or young adult cancer. The aim is to assess whether certain hospital admissions are more (or less) common amongst a population of survivors of childhood and young adult cancers following treatment compared to the general population. The risk of admissions of a certain diagnosis in the cancer population will be compared to that in the general population. The YSRCCYP research team aims to look at the whole admission pattern of patients, not simply those that occur in the primary diagnosis fields and therefore require an episode level extract as opposed to aggregated counts of admission.
The HES and mental health data are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
Firstly in order to address aim 1 and 4-6 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer; also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
The YSRCCYP research team’s research plans include the following objectives:
1) To describe the total burden of physical and mental health hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
[4 paragraphs unchanged]
*Please note, the data added to the YSRCCYP from data sources such as ChemoCare, will never be linked to NHS
Digital
England
at record level. Only aggregated outputs with small numbers suppressed will be compared.
[10 paragraphs unchanged]
A PPI workshop took place in January 2022, organised by the Yorkshire Register research team, DATA-CAN (HDR-UK) and the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) where the YSRCCYP research team sought individuals’ views on opting out for those who were diagnosed with cancer under the age of 19 and who were currently aged 16-24 years. The YSRCCYP research team also invited carers of children with cancer to attend. Participants appeared to be reassured that there was a clear process for opting out but raised the point that by opting out this would cause problems for researchers. There was a strong view that opting out would jeopardise the ability to enable complete data sharing for research purposes in relation to rare cancers so that better treatments can be developed, with fewer side effects and long-term complications
In order to meet the above objectives, The University of Leeds request an update to the following NHS England datasets to be supplied at year 3 within this agreement.
The YSRCCYP research team require some data items classed as sensitive. These are the Referrer code, which indicates the manner in which the patient was referred to hospital by ascertaining the code of the referring organisation. This allows the YSRCCYP research team to identify particular patient pathways which are associated with an optimal time to diagnosis, a key indicator known to influence survival. Additionally the Consultant code data field is required because it enables the YSRCYYP research team to work out whether patients receive care at specialist cancer centres as opposed to general district hospitals, in order to address important health services research questions such as: ‘Does specialist care improve patient outcomes for children and young people including length of hospital stay and reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality?’. There are currently no databases which link consultant codes to specialist cancer centres for childhood and young adult cancer, so this process needs to be done manually using cohort linked NHS Digital data and the YSRCCYP database.
-Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS)
UofL are keen to access data by gender, deprivation, ethnicity (South Asian, Black, White, other) as well as age to allow them to draw accurate comparisons with the cancer cohort.
-Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS)
-Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set
-Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC)
-Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP)
-Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS)
-Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E)
The University of Leeds request an update to the following NHS England (NDRS) datasets to be supplied on an annual basis. (Data previously disseminated under DARS-NIC-656761):
-Civil Registration Mortality – necessary to calculate survival estimates to examine early mortality and long-term trends in survival for the YSRCCYP cohort.
-NDRS Cancer Registration – necessary to ensure that the YSRCCYP has complete case ascertainment for all patients aged under 40 years in Yorkshire, as well as any subsequent tumours or relapses.
-NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS)
-NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
The level of data will be identifiable necessary to enable linkage of the data with data collected from other sources within the YSRCCYP (local Patient Managements systems (PPM), HES, National Pupil Database, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). In order to evaluate long-term health and social outcomes. Identifiable data items are essential so that the YSRCCYP data manager can access the right person’s medical records and validate key information such as cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment whilst addressing any missing information.
The data will be minimised as follows:
• Limited to data for the YSRCCYP cohort identified by the University of Leeds, i.e. patients aged 0-14 years diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire & the Humber between 1974-1989 and patients aged 0-39 years since 1990.
• All valid ICD10 codes for cause of death.
• ICD10 codes C00 – C97, D00-D05, D07-D48 for second primary tumours.
The University of Leeds is the research sponsor and the data controller as the organisation responsible for ensuring that the data will only be processed for the purpose described above.
The lawful basis for processing personal data under the UK GDPR is:
Article 6(1)(e) - processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
The lawful basis for processing special category data under the UK GDPR is:
Article 9(2)(j) - processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
This processing is in the public interest because it relates to cancer registration, specifically to examine long-term health and social outcomes for children and young people diagnosed in Yorkshire. Findings will provide information on those groups whose outcomes are worse than their peers and this will be used to inform future decisions over patients’ treatment and care.
The funding is provided by the Candlelighters Trust, Leeds. The funding is specifically for the YSRCCYP cohort described. Funding is in place until 31/5/2027. The funder will have no ability to suppress or otherwise limit the publication of findings.
The YSRCCYP database is currently stored on the University of Leeds's cloud platform called LASER which is provided by Microsoft Limited. It is anticipated The University of Leeds will migrate the data to AIMES Management Services in 2024, to which an amendment to this DSA to update the processor as required will be submitted.
Microsoft Limited provides IT hosting services to the University of Leeds and will store the data as contracted by the University of Leeds. Microsoft Limited also provides IT back up services to the University of Leeds and will store copies of the data as contracted by the University of Leeds.
Data will be accessed by:
• Undergraduate, Masters or PhD students affiliated with the University of Leeds. Any student working with the data held under this Agreement must have completed mandatory data protection and confidentiality training and are subject to the University of Leeds’ policies on data protection and confidentiality. Any students accessing the data will do so under the supervision of a substantive employee of the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds would be responsible and liable for any work carried out by students. These students would only work on the data for the purposes described in this Agreement. Any education benefit gained from carrying out this work would be an associated benefit and would not be the primary reason for the research being conducted nor the primary reason for their involvement.
• An individual from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be working on specific data extracts for their own clinical academic training, holding an honorary contract (visiting title) with the University of Leeds. The honorary contract holder is a junior doctor who requires research experience as part of their clinical academic training in order for them to continue with their career. They will be performing the statistical analysis for the study. An appropriate contract between the individual and the University of Leeds is in place.
Any individual working with the data held under this Agreement must have completed mandatory data protection and confidentiality training and are subject to the University of Leeds’ policies on data protection and confidentiality. Any individuals accessing the data will do so under the supervision of a substantive employee of the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds would be responsible and liable for any work carried out by these individuals. These individuals would only work on the data for the purposes described in this Agreement. Any education or clinical academic benefit gained from carrying out this work would be an associated benefit and would not be the primary reason for the research being conducted nor the primary reason for their involvement.
The YSRCCYP Scientific Advisory Group provides advice on key strategic objectives, monitors progress on these objectives, monitors the quality of the scientific work of the project and provides guidance on complex issues when needed, e.g. the release of sensitive findings. Details of current members can be found on the YSRCCYP website: https://ysrccyp.org.uk/about/scientific-advisory-group/.
The NIHR Clinical Research Fellow within the YSRCCYP team, has led on the development of two national Public and Patient Information and Engagement workshops in February 2022 and April 2022 in conjunction with DATA-CAN exploring young people’s views on the use of health data for research purposes. This included discussion around cancer registration and data linkage with education and employment datasets. There was strong support from the group in favour of these ongoing research activities and these findings are being written-up for publication later this year. The workshops also helped to inform the research strategy because the late effects of cancer were also one of the young people's research priorities. These young people are also supporting University of Leeds in individual research projects and grant applications.
The NIHR Clinical Research Fellow and the Register Statistician, have also represented the work of the YSRCCYP and Candlelighters’ Trust at the ‘Be Curious’ public engagement event for children and their families held at the University of Leeds in May 2023. This was a huge success with numerous families asking questions about the research and expressing interest about being involved in future PPIE events related to the YSRCCYP. There was significant diversity of families attending the event, for example children attended from the Bradford East family hub along with families where English was their second language. This provided University of Leeds with the ability to engage with the harder to reach populations.
Patients are made aware of all data flows through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement which is published on the University of Leeds website. University of Leeds have also engaged with groups such as the GenerationR Young People’s Advisory Group at Leeds General Infirmary where the research from the YSRCYP is disseminated to young people in accessible forms.
This contract is reliant on the Data Recipient maintaining the continued support for use of confidential patient information without consent, according to regulations made under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 (20CAG0133).
The study has support under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 to enable the common law duty of confidentiality to be temporarily lifted so that confidential patient information can be processed without consent.
Where individuals have opted out of disease registration by the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), their data has been permanently removed from the registry and therefore will not be disseminated under this Data Sharing Agreement (DSA). https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/patients/opting-out
Processing activities
All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract i.e.: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
For NDRS linkage, NHS England will provide the relevant records already flagged from the NDRS dataset to the University of Leeds in terms of latest vital status i.e. death registration data, relapse, secondary malignant neoplasms and any subsequent treatment received. NHS England will also provide relevant records on all new cancer registrations aged 0-39 years at diagnosis resident in Yorkshire as well as the same details listed in the previous sentence. NHS England will flow back identifiable data such as NHS number, full name, date of birth, sex and postcode so that University of Leeds can access the right person’s medical records and validate key information such as cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment whilst addressing any missing information. These identifiers are stored and then used to enable data linkage with information collected from other sources such as local Patient Managements systems (PPM), HES, National Pupil Database, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) data as described in the YSRCCYP data flow diagram, as part of the epidemiological research programme to monitor long-term health and social outcomes.
The YSRCCYP research team undertake the following processing activities:
For HES linkage, the registration data will flow from University of Leeds back to NHS England and will contain directly identifying data items including NHS Number, Date of Birth, Postcode, and Gender which are required to link the data at record level with data already held by the NDRS. NHS England will then flow back the linked HES data with the YSRCCYP tumour identifier number to University of Leeds.
The University of Leeds will securely transfer files of identifiers for patients in the YSRCCYP (NHS Number, Date of birth, sex and postcode plus a unique study ID) to NHS Digital. NHS Digital will return HES data up to the period 2021/22 latest available including the unique study ID and no other identifiers.
Data will be stored on Leeds Analytic Secure Environment for Research (LASER), a custom Virtual Research Environment (VRE) based on Microsoft Azure technologies operated by the University of Leeds. LASER uses the Microsoft Azure UK South data centre.
On receipt of cohort linked data the YSRCCYP research team undertake the following processing activities:
https://lida-data-analytics-team.github.io/laserdocs/docs/laser_info/laser.html.
The data are initially checked for any errors or inconsistencies. This involves checking to ensure no duplicate episodes remain, which may have arisen either due to supplied duplicate HES episodes or the overlap between previously received HES data by the YSRCCYP research team, some of which may relate to provisional data releases. Further checks are made to ensure no multiple admissions existed which were less than 2 days apart with the same HES ID, and no admission entries occurred after the date of death if deceased (the latter which is obtained from YSRCCYP database).
Backups are handled by Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent and uses a Backup Service Vault, connected to Azure storage services based in the UK.
Upon completion of checks, an extract of identifiable data (not NHS Digital data) is taken from the YSRCCYP database and linked to fields from the cohort linked HES data (pseudonymised) to calculate variables such as the duration from admission to death and age at admission where such variables are relevant to specific research questions.
As per the University of Leeds policy data is classified using a data risk tiering system based on the perceived impact of disclosure. All data from projects like the YSRCCYP generally falls within tier 3 or 4. Identifiable data is generally classified as tier 4, i.e. significant impact to University of Leeds, partners or individuals with potential for substantial legal, financial or reputational penalties. Pseudonymised / De-identified data is generally classified as tier 3, i.e. high impact to University of Leeds, partners or data subjects with potential for contractual, commercial, legal, financial or reputational penalties.
Length of hospital stay is calculated from the dates of admission and discharge and compared between cancer diagnostic groups, age groups, gender, ethnic group, socioeconomic status, level of specialist care, and distance from residential address to hospital (hence why the University needs OA code and grid reference).
Identifiable data is held within a separate VRE that can only be accessed from within a designated safe room onsite at the University of Leeds. Pseudonymised data is held in a separate VRE that can be accessed by authorised personnel remotely. Data ingress and egress of all data is controlled by the LASER Data Analytics Team (DAT). https://lida-data-analytics-team.github.io/laserdocs/docs/lida_services/dat.html. Research staff do not have the ability to copy any dataset to an external device.
All data is held locally at the University of Leeds, on encrypted hard drives, in a highly secure environment. Extreme care and attention is paid to maintaining the security and confidentiality of the YSRCCYP research database.
The identifiable data will not leave England at any time and the data will not be transferred to any other location.
In summary the following physical precautions are in place to protect the data under this Agreement:
The Data will be accessed by authorised personnel via remote access. The Data will remain on the servers at Leeds Analytic Secure Environment for Research (LASER), at all times.
· Only those essential members of staff who work on the YSRCCYP research database and require direct access to the data are granted authorisation.
The Controller(s) must confirm and provide evidence upon audit by NHS England that access via any remote device complies with the data security obligations within this DSA and the Data Sharing Framework Contract.
· All users of the LASER system must sign a confidentiality agreement, which includes stipulating that security and confidentiality must be maintained. Certain breaches of security could lead to disciplinary and legal action being taken.
For remote access:
· The data is held on an encrypted firewall-protected area of the University of Leeds IRC.
- Remote access will only be from secure locations situated within the territory of use (as further restricted elsewhere within the DSA if so done) stated within this DSA;
· Daily back-ups are taken to ensure the integrity of the data and held off-site.
- Access controls granting users the minimum level of access required are in place;
Personally identifiable information is held subject to the following conditions:
- Remote access is only via secure connections (e.g., VPNs or secure protocols) to protect data;
· No information is ever published in which individuals can be identified.
- Multifactor authentication (MFA) is required for remote access;
· No individuals on the YSRCCYP research database are ever approached directly.
- Device security, including up-to-date software and operating systems, antivirus software, and enabled firewalls are utilised for the remote access;
· Data are only released according to the requirements of the Information Governance Policy which specifies the circumstances for data release.
- All remote access is undertaken within the scope of the organisation’s DSPT (or other security arrangements as per this agreement) and complies with the organisation’s remote access policy.
Data will be held indefinitely enabling the accrual of an ever-increasing dataset relating to cancer in young people and allowing more powerful statistical comparisons to be performed and the effects of risk factors estimated more precisely.
Access is restricted to individuals within the YSRCCYP research team at the University of Leeds who have authorisation from the Principal Investigator (PI). All such individuals are substantive employees of the University of Leeds, Undergraduate, Masters or PhD students affiliated with the University of Leeds. An individual from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be working on specific data extracts for their own clinical academic training, holding an honorary contract (visiting title) with the University of Leeds.
The University of Leeds presently stores the data on an encrypted secure area network (SEED), however under this version of this Agreement The University of Leeds is requesting to migrate the data to Microsoft Azure. Access to data stored on the cloud will be restricted to individuals working on the YSRCCYP register research programme. Access to the record level data will only be by substantive employees of the University of Leeds and located within the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (School of Medicine). No NHS Digital data will be transferred outside of the University of Leeds or shared with any third-party individual or organisation.
Access to each pseudonymised / de-identified dataset held will be restricted to designated YSRCCYP affiliated researchers who have been authorised by either the PI or designated officer. Access to patient identifiable data is restricted to employees of the University of Leeds who are YSRCCYP affiliated. These researchers will have specifically been granted access by the PI dependent on their job role. YSRCCYP researchers can potentially have prepared identifiable datasets in locations within the VRE with bespoke access restrictions to minimise the individuals with access to the full identifiable data held. Individuals with an honorary contract / visiting title act as an agent of the University of Leeds at all times under supervision of University employees.
The cohort linked data (HES and mental health) and the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK), are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Both datasets are distinct from the YSRCCYP data itself. The pseudonymised HES extract will not be linked to the cohort data supplied by NHS Digital or in the YSRCCYP database. Different pseudonymised HES IDs will ensure this is not possible.
Access to the core identifiable dataset will be restricted to a minimum number of individuals within the YSRCCYP research team. Research data extracts will be approved by data managers and research statisticians within the team. A data asset log will be maintained documenting the source / code used to produce use, storage location and approved users. All requests are approved by the Principal Investigator via email, which acts as an additional audit trail.
The HES and mental health data disseminated under this agreement are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
All personnel accessing the data have been appropriately trained in data protection and confidentiality.
Data will only be used for the purposes described in this Agreement. The NHS Digital data will not be linked to any other data apart from YSRCCYP data (including linked data as listed on the Data Flow Diagram), however NHS Digital data will never be uploaded to the YSRCCYP research database.
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The data will be linked at person record level with datasets obtained from NHS England (NDRS & HES), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (PPM; PROMs), Department for Education (National Pupil Database), Department for Work and Pensions, and HMRC.
The identifying details will be stored in a separate database to the linked dataset used for analysis. All analyses will use the pseudonymised dataset. There will be no requirement and no attempt to reidentify individuals when using the pseudonymised dataset.
Data managers and researchers from the YSRCCYP research team at the University of Leeds will process the data for the purposes described above.
Researchers from the YSRCCYP research team at the University of Leeds will use the relevant subset of data to analyse incidence and survival trends including long-term health and outcomes, as described above.
Expected output
Summaries of the results will be presented orally at conferences and are intended to be published in academic or medical journals. All outputs will be aggregated with small numbers suppressed and in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
The expected outputs of the processing will be:
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in International Journal of Cancer in 2020. Work describing the applicability of risk-stratified levels of aftercare in predicting long-term morbidity in young adults was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship in 2020 Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to the cumulative burden of subsequent neoplasms, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in Cancer Epidemiology in 2020.
• A report of findings to the Candlelighters Trust on an annual basis.
Further outputs will be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Analyses describing educational outcomes will be submitted for publication by Summer 2023 to the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
• Submissions to peer reviewed journals, expected to be at least two submissions per year.
Work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific cardio-metabolic disease by Summer 2024. Risks of kidney toxicity will be submitted for publication by Summer 2024 in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar) by Summer 2024. Risks of anxiety, depression and overall mental health disorders will be submitted for publication by Winter 2024 in the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
• Presentations to the Candlelighters Trust as well as local and regional clinical and research seminars.
Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2024. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
• Presentations at Cancer Research UK, National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences.
• Publication of infographics on the YSRCCYP’s website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
• A database to be utilised as a resource for health research.
The outputs will not contain NHS England data and will only contain aggregated information with small numbers suppressed as appropriate in line with the relevant disclosure rules for the dataset(s) from which the information was derived.
The outputs will be communicated to relevant recipients through the following dissemination channels:
• Journals (e.g. BMC Cancer)
• Workshops involving clinicians and researchers working in the childhood and young adult cancer field, e.g. NCRI TYA and Germ Cell tumour Clinical Services Group.
• Webinars open to academic and clinical researchers in the UK.
• Social media
• Posters displayed at Cancer Research UK, CCLG, TYAC and SIOP conferences.
• Patient Information leaflets available at the YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
• Press/media engagement
• Public promotion of the research, e.g. Be Curious event at the University of Leeds.
The target dates for production and dissemination of the outputs are:
• Journals: 2 per year, e.g. germ cell tumour dose intensity paper to be submitted by July 2023, early mortality paper to be submitted by Dec 2024, cardio-metabolic paper to be submitted by Dec 2024. Analyses describing educational outcomes will be submitted for publication by Summer 2025 to the International Journal of Cancer (or similar). Work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific cardio-metabolic disease by Summer 2025. Risks of kidney toxicity will be submitted for publication by Summer 2024 in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar). Risks of anxiety, depression and overall mental health disorders will be submitted for publication by Winter 2025 in the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
• Workshops involving clinicians and researchers working in the childhood and young adult cancer field, e.g. NCRI TYA and Germ Cell tumour Clinical Services Group: 3 per year.
• Webinars open to academic and clinical researchers in the UK: 2 per year.
• Social media: coinciding with each journal publication, 2 per year.
• Posters displayed at Cancer Research UK, CCLG, TYAC and SIOP conferences: 3 per year.
• Patient Information leaflets available at the YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk: ongoing and updated regularly.
• Press/media engagement: coinciding with each journal publication, 2 per year.
• Public promotion of the research, e.g. Be Curious event at the University of Leeds: twice per year.
Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2025. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2025). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (Summer 2025).
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The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2024). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (Summer 2024).
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st May 2027. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2027 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Results will be reported to academic audiences in peer reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. The study also plan to disseminate findings directly to other beneficiaries including cancer patients, their families and clinicians.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st August 2027. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2027 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Expected measurable benefits
The benefits to health and social care will include:
The findings of this research study are expected to contribute to evidence-based decision-making for policy-makers, local decision-makers such as doctors, and patients to inform best practice to improve the care, treatment and experience of health care users relevant to childhood and young adult cancer.
1. Improved patient care. This work will aim to identify to clinicians those individuals within the cohort who are at greatest risk of hospitalization; this will enable follow-up practices to be tailored to patient needs, help identify potential health problems early and intervene so that patient wellbeing is maximized and NHS burden minimized. For example, those individuals identified as being at greatest risk of cardio-metabolic, mental health and kidney illness will be offered additional support from NHS services (e.g. psychiatry, social care) through their treating oncologist or GP. The risks of depression following cancer treatment will help to describe the NHS burden of mental health problems in this vulnerable population. This knowledge will be informative to paediatric oncologists and other allied health professionals caring for patients, as well as their GPs, by improving awareness of the timing when depression is likely to be diagnosed so that the quality of care can be improved. Patients will be informed of their risk group via their treating consultant or at their annual hospital clinic follow up appointment. Their GPs will also be informed of the results of the risk stratification via the hospital consultant team.
The use of the data could:
2. Evaluation of treatments to identify best practice and guidance. Work to understand the reasons for the hospitalisation so researchers can identify whether certain treatments are associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation and disseminate this information through scientific journal articles. This will mean that alternative treatment modalities and optimal care can be planned which minimize these complications. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by Summer 2024.
• help the system to better understand the health and care needs of the childhood and young adult cancer population in Yorkshire.
3. Evaluation of service provision. Highlight any inequalities in access to specialist cancer care services, particularly in older teenagers and young adults, so that all patients have an equal chance of obtaining the best care irrespective of their personal circumstances and thereby having the best chance of cure. The work will be written up in the form of reports to commissioners and journal articles so that clinicians and commissioners can use this information in order to make any necessary changes to service delivery so that the entire Yorkshire and Humber cancer population is served equally well. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December 2024.
• lead to the identification or improvement of treatments or interventions, or health and care system design to improve health and care outcomes or experience.
4. Financial planning. Information on hospital activity burden and NHS costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment of children and young adults with cancer will be calculated by the University research team in collaboration with health economists at the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences. Changes in costs over the last 20 years will be reported, adjusting for inflation, in order to provide cost projections over the next 10 years. This information will be collated in the form of a report to specialist commissioners of childhood and adolescent cancer services in the Yorkshire & Humber region so that, where required, service changes can be implemented in order to meet future NHS patient demand. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December 2025.
• advance understanding of regional trends in health and social care needs.
At the moment, these data are lacking and once identified by the YSRCCYP research team, they will provide important information:
• inform planning health services and programmes, for example to improve equity of access, experience and outcomes for children and young people with cancer.
* to clinicians top improve the treatment of cohort patients under their care
• provide a mechanism for checking the quality of care. This could include identifying areas of good practice to learn from, or areas of poorer practice which need to be addressed.
* to specialist commissioners to monitor the effectiveness of cancer care and
Potential benefits could comprise:
* to patients in order to understand more about their own risks of complications associated with the treatment they have received and wherever possible self-manage their own care and wellbeing.
• An ability to evaluate changes in risk of death for children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire and determine whether differences exist by ethnic group, deprivation and stage at diagnosis.
* to identify gaps in access to specialist care by the research team for two distinct populations:
• Identify those groups of survivors who are most likely to experience the poorest health and social outcomes so that appropriate interventions and improvements in care quality can be devised.
i) teenagers and young adults, who do not benefit from the same level of centralised care as that in place for younger children, and
It is hoped that through publication of findings in appropriate media, the findings of this research will add to the body of evidence that is considered by the bodies, organisations and individual care practitioners charged with making policy decisions for or within the NHS or treatment decisions in relation to childhood and young adult cancer patients and survivors in Yorkshire.
Outputs will be integrated into clinical practice through established links between the YSRCCYP research team and paediatric and adolescent oncologists throughout the Yorkshire region. The research programme as a whole benefits enormously from the long-running, close collaboration with haematologists and oncologists in the Yorkshire and the Humber region who all help to ensure that the University's research findings are effectively translated into clinical practice and are involved in all outputs from the YSRCCYP database.
University of Leeds will use multiple channels to disseminate key findings. These will include:
• The Candlelighters Trust Families Group
• The CCLG’s Late Effects Group
• The NCRI CTYA and Germ Cell Tumour Clinical Services Group
• PPIE events such as those organised by the Candlelighters Trust and University of Leeds, e.g. Be Curious.
• International scientific meetings, e.g. SIOP, Global AYA Cancer Congress.
• The YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
The Candlelighters Trust, as the main funder of the YSRCCYP research programme, have been an important source of support in making sure that the outputs are provided in clear formats and at appropriate public meetings
Benefits reported
The YSRCCYP database has yielded several benefits, for example:
Update as provided on the annual confirmation report submitted 21/12/2023
• The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them. It has enabled childhood and young adult cancer survivors and their families to understand more about their own risk of developing these longer-term health problems according to their original diagnosis and treatment, and at what age they are most likely to appear. In effect, young cancer patients have been able to take ownership of their own survivorship.
Multiple peer-reviewed publications describing the epidemiology and long-term outcomes for children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire.
• The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary of the latest literature relating to late consequences of cancer treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy. This has provided awareness and information to cancer survivors from Yorkshire about reproductive outcomes to enable them to plan fertility storage at the earliest opportunity and maximise the chances of having their own offspring. Additionally, the identification of a sparsity of evidence on outcomes of ovarian and testicular tissue resulted in establishment of a multi-centre initiative to establish a population based register of individuals with stored ovarian and testicular tissue in the United Kingdom (UK).
A full list can be found here:
• It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and their relationship to subsequent morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire. This information has been made available to the clinical community in Yorkshire in the form of research papers, regular webinars and infographics so that those health professionals looking after young cancer survivors are able to inform them of their risks of morbidity depending on their original cancer diagnosis and treatment, and at what age these are likely to be develop..
https://ysrccyp.org.uk/research/publications/
• It has allowed researchers to quantify the prevalence and spectrum of mental health problems found in adult survivors of childhood cancer, based on a systematic review of the current evidence. Problems ranged from depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and drug misuse. Factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems included treatment with high-dose anthracyclines, cranial irradiation, diagnoses of sarcoma or central nervous system tumours and ongoing physical ill health. The review recommended further work to identify childhood cancer patients who are at risk of developing late mental health morbidity.
Some specific examples:
• The first comprehensive analysis of hospital mental health episodes following CTYA cancer treatment (Friend, PhD thesis, 2020), preceded by a systematic review of the current evidence (Friend et al, Int J Cancer 2018).
1) The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them. It has enabled childhood and young adult cancer survivors and their families to understand more about their own risk of developing these longer-term health problems according to their original diagnosis and treatment, and at what age they are most likely to appear. In effect, young cancer patients have been able to take ownership of their own survivorship.
• The YSRCCYP research team found that the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative paediatric late-effects risk stratification system can be effectively and safely applied to cancer patients aged 18-29, independent of ethnicity or socioeconomic position. This evidence has supported clinical services in Yorkshire and further afield across the UK to safely adopt risk-stratified care pathways for the long term follow up of individuals living with and beyond cancer.
2) The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary of the latest literature relating to late consequences of cancer treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy. This has provided awareness and information to cancer survivors from Yorkshire about reproductive outcomes to enable them to plan fertility storage at the earliest opportunity and maximise the chances of having
their own offspring. Additionally, the identification of a sparsity of evidence on outcomes of ovarian and testicular tissue resulted in establishment of a multi-centre initiative to establish a population based register of individuals with stored ovarian and testicular tissue in the United Kingdom (UK).
3) It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and their relationship to subsequent morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire. This information has been made available to the clinical community in Yorkshire in the form of research papers, regular webinars and infographics so that those health professionals looking after young cancer survivors are able
to inform them of their risks of morbidity depending on their original cancer diagnosis and treatment, and at what age these are likely to be develop.
4) It has allowed researchers to quantify the prevalence and spectrum of mental health problems found in adult survivors of childhood cancer, based on a systematic review of the current evidence. Problems ranged from depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and drug misuse. Factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems included treatment with high-dose anthracyclines, cranial irradiation, diagnoses of sarcoma or central nervous system tumours and ongoing physical ill health. The review recommended further work to identify
childhood cancer patients who are at risk of developing late mental health morbidity.
5)The first comprehensive analysis of hospital mental health episodes following CTYA cancer treatment (Friend, PhD thesis, 2020), preceded by a systematic review of the current evidence (Friend et al, Int J Cancer 2018).
6)The YSRCCYP research team found that the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative paediatric late-effects risk stratification system can be effectively and safely applied to cancer patients aged 18-39, independent of ethnicity or socioeconomic position. This evidence has supported clinical services in Yorkshire and further afield across the UK to safely adopt risk-stratified care pathways for the long term follow up of individuals living with and beyond
cancer.
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds requires access to NHS England data for the purpose of the following research project: Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP). Cancer registration data from the YSRCCYP is used to carry out a programme of epidemiological and applied health research as set out in the Yorkshire Register protocol.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by the University of Leeds' Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Sole Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed.
The YSRCCYP is a specialist register focusing on tumour registrations diagnosed in the Yorkshire and Humber region since 1974 for patients aged 0-14 years and 1990 for those aged 0-39 years. The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the NCRAS, the latter covered by this Data Sharing Agreement (DSA).
Childhood cancer registration details for those aged 0-15 years are primarily provided via the two Principal Treatment Centres, at Leeds Children’s Hospital and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, with a secondary source being the NCRAS. For 16-39 year olds, these are primarily provided by the NCRAS, with secondary sources being Teenage and Young Adult Principal Treatment Centres in Leeds and Sheffield. The NCRAS is also the primary source of information for these children and young people if diagnosed with any subsequent tumours or relapses at any age and living inside or outside the Yorkshire region at the time.
The NHS England dataset also provides data on death registrations for any existing tumour registration since 1974 on an annual basis as part of this annual data extract.
Below is a summary of the YSRCCYP research team’s research plans which include the following objectives:
1) To describe the total burden of physical and mental health hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-39 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 40 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
3) To calculate the risks and costs to the NHS of adverse physical and mental health events requiring hospital admission for survivors of cancer in this age group so that clinicians can provide appropriate follow-up care.
4) To identify the risks of cardio-metabolic disease in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors. Specific risk markers for cardiovascular disease plus metabolic factors associated with metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes will be collected. The study team will also obtain a range of additional biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. This data will facilitate a programme of research assessing the prevalence of endocrine complications and cardiometabolic late effects in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors.
5)i)To identify the impact of cancer treatment on kidney toxicity and mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. In this project researchers aim to enhance the treatment data held in the register through linkage with the national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) dataset and hospital electronic prescribing systems such as ChemoCare*. It is hoped this will enable researchers to compare the chemotherapy doses and intensities given to patients with the same tumour types and see if this has any effect on outcomes including survival and relapse. Researchers may also be able to look at the toxicities experienced by patients by reviewing routine measurements and blood tests collected prior to chemotherapy. From this, researchers may be able to see if any dose modifications were made as a result and again look at whether this had any effect on patient outcome. By comparing patients treated at different hospitals. researchers may, for some tumour types, be able to see whether, and if so how, practices differ between Principal Treatment Centres and peripheral hospitals.
ii) An extension of this project is to look in more detail at the impact of cancer treatments on kidney toxicity. Routine bloods tests and measurements held will be enhanced by the collection of urinary analyses, microbiology results, radioisotope measurements and the prescription of any anti-hypertensive medications. These additional fields will give researchers a greater insight into the kidney toxicity caused.
*Please note, the data added to the YSRCCYP from data sources such as ChemoCare, will never be linked to NHS England at record level. Only aggregated outputs with small numbers suppressed will be compared.
6) To provide contextual information on existing physical and mental health morbidity when evaluating educational and employment outcomes. As part of the ongoing research the study team collect additional information for patients on the register attending the long-term follow-up clinics at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Patients attending these clinics complete a holistic needs assessment which includes the completion of the distress thermometer and a problems check list. These data items are used as a measure of psychological health to assess the prevalence of distress in long term cancer survivors and the associations between patient characteristics and levels of distress.
To address aims 1 and 4, the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and Mental Health data to investigate long term risks of all major morbidity (e.g. cardio-metabolic, respiratory, mental health illness) in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for YSRCCYP members in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 65 at admission (the oldest person currently registered in the database). This separate extract is covered under Agreement DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK.
To address aims 2 and 3 evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total burden of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and mental health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
Rates of admission within the cancer survivors have previously been compared to pseudonymised hospital admission rates to work out standardised hospitalization admission ratios and assess whether these differed according to cancer diagnosis, treatment, ethnic group, gender, age group, period of diagnosis and socioeconomic status, using statistical models adjusting for patient case-mix while also incorporating the general background hospital admission rates. (Althumairi, University of Leeds, 2017). To address aim 3 this process will be repeated using the latest data with a focus on specific disease groups, including cardio-metabolic, kidney disease, anxiety and depression, as well as total physical and mental health morbidity data, using a similar methodology as the YSRCCYP research team’s previously published work on cardiovascular disease, respiratory morbidity and cumulative burden.
Aim 4 will examine the lifelong risk for the development of endocrine complications or adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes attributable to the cancer and/or treatment with a specific focus on these risks in relation to ethnic group and socio-economic status.
Aim 5 will enable the YSRCCYP research team to estimate the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression among the Yorkshire survivorship cohort, whether this risk has changed over time and the points at which it may appear in the survivor's cancer treatment. The key clinical factors which influence the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression will also be identified.
A current research focus is on hospital burden around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population. Using data from March 2020 onwards, the study team will examine any changes in the long-term health risks by identifying those individuals in the cohort who tested positive for Sars-Cov-2 infection.
Aim 6 will provide important clinical information on existing health problems, identified from HES data, when describing educational attainment and employment trajectories for the young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire. Specifically, those with existing health problems will be identified and this information will be taken into account as a potential confounding factor when examining the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes among the entire survivor cohort. Furthermore, the YSRCCYP research team will be able to determine whether the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes are exacerbated for those with pre-existing illness.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a patient’s Covid-19 status and related data (such as date positive status was confirmed and shielding status) are also collected. This enables an analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on cancer treatments for children and young people (such as delays in treatment or non-start of treatments) and long-term health and social outcomes. Also resulting from the changes to working practices in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, data collection is completed remotely where possible. Approval has been obtained from NHS Trusts for remote access to digitalised patient notes.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations. The research will also have the potential to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term health outcomes since March 2020.
In order to meet the above objectives, The University of Leeds request an update to the following NHS England datasets to be supplied at year 3 within this agreement.
-Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS)
-Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS)
-Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set
-Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC)
-Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP)
-Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS)
-Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E)
The University of Leeds request an update to the following NHS England (NDRS) datasets to be supplied on an annual basis. (Data previously disseminated under DARS-NIC-656761):
-Civil Registration Mortality – necessary to calculate survival estimates to examine early mortality and long-term trends in survival for the YSRCCYP cohort.
-NDRS Cancer Registration – necessary to ensure that the YSRCCYP has complete case ascertainment for all patients aged under 40 years in Yorkshire, as well as any subsequent tumours or relapses.
-NDRS National Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS)
-NDRS Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT)
The level of data will be identifiable necessary to enable linkage of the data with data collected from other sources within the YSRCCYP (local Patient Managements systems (PPM), HES, National Pupil Database, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HMRC and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). In order to evaluate long-term health and social outcomes. Identifiable data items are essential so that the YSRCCYP data manager can access the right person’s medical records and validate key information such as cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment whilst addressing any missing information.
The data will be minimised as follows:
• Limited to data for the YSRCCYP cohort identified by the University of Leeds, i.e. patients aged 0-14 years diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire & the Humber between 1974-1989 and patients aged 0-39 years since 1990.
• All valid ICD10 codes for cause of death.
• ICD10 codes C00 – C97, D00-D05, D07-D48 for second primary tumours.
The University of Leeds is the research sponsor and the data controller as the organisation responsible for ensuring that the data will only be processed for the purpose described above.
The lawful basis for processing personal data under the UK GDPR is:
Article 6(1)(e) - processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
The lawful basis for processing special category data under the UK GDPR is:
Article 9(2)(j) - processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
This processing is in the public interest because it relates to cancer registration, specifically to examine long-term health and social outcomes for children and young people diagnosed in Yorkshire. Findings will provide information on those groups whose outcomes are worse than their peers and this will be used to inform future decisions over patients’ treatment and care.
The funding is provided by the Candlelighters Trust, Leeds. The funding is specifically for the YSRCCYP cohort described. Funding is in place until 31/5/2027. The funder will have no ability to suppress or otherwise limit the publication of findings.
The YSRCCYP database is currently stored on the University of Leeds's cloud platform called LASER which is provided by Microsoft Limited. It is anticipated The University of Leeds will migrate the data to AIMES Management Services in 2024, to which an amendment to this DSA to update the processor as required will be submitted.
Microsoft Limited provides IT hosting services to the University of Leeds and will store the data as contracted by the University of Leeds. Microsoft Limited also provides IT back up services to the University of Leeds and will store copies of the data as contracted by the University of Leeds.
Data will be accessed by:
• Undergraduate, Masters or PhD students affiliated with the University of Leeds. Any student working with the data held under this Agreement must have completed mandatory data protection and confidentiality training and are subject to the University of Leeds’ policies on data protection and confidentiality. Any students accessing the data will do so under the supervision of a substantive employee of the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds would be responsible and liable for any work carried out by students. These students would only work on the data for the purposes described in this Agreement. Any education benefit gained from carrying out this work would be an associated benefit and would not be the primary reason for the research being conducted nor the primary reason for their involvement.
• An individual from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be working on specific data extracts for their own clinical academic training, holding an honorary contract (visiting title) with the University of Leeds. The honorary contract holder is a junior doctor who requires research experience as part of their clinical academic training in order for them to continue with their career. They will be performing the statistical analysis for the study. An appropriate contract between the individual and the University of Leeds is in place.
Any individual working with the data held under this Agreement must have completed mandatory data protection and confidentiality training and are subject to the University of Leeds’ policies on data protection and confidentiality. Any individuals accessing the data will do so under the supervision of a substantive employee of the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds would be responsible and liable for any work carried out by these individuals. These individuals would only work on the data for the purposes described in this Agreement. Any education or clinical academic benefit gained from carrying out this work would be an associated benefit and would not be the primary reason for the research being conducted nor the primary reason for their involvement.
The YSRCCYP Scientific Advisory Group provides advice on key strategic objectives, monitors progress on these objectives, monitors the quality of the scientific work of the project and provides guidance on complex issues when needed, e.g. the release of sensitive findings. Details of current members can be found on the YSRCCYP website: https://ysrccyp.org.uk/about/scientific-advisory-group/.
The NIHR Clinical Research Fellow within the YSRCCYP team, has led on the development of two national Public and Patient Information and Engagement workshops in February 2022 and April 2022 in conjunction with DATA-CAN exploring young people’s views on the use of health data for research purposes. This included discussion around cancer registration and data linkage with education and employment datasets. There was strong support from the group in favour of these ongoing research activities and these findings are being written-up for publication later this year. The workshops also helped to inform the research strategy because the late effects of cancer were also one of the young people's research priorities. These young people are also supporting University of Leeds in individual research projects and grant applications.
The NIHR Clinical Research Fellow and the Register Statistician, have also represented the work of the YSRCCYP and Candlelighters’ Trust at the ‘Be Curious’ public engagement event for children and their families held at the University of Leeds in May 2023. This was a huge success with numerous families asking questions about the research and expressing interest about being involved in future PPIE events related to the YSRCCYP. There was significant diversity of families attending the event, for example children attended from the Bradford East family hub along with families where English was their second language. This provided University of Leeds with the ability to engage with the harder to reach populations.
Patients are made aware of all data flows through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement which is published on the University of Leeds website. University of Leeds have also engaged with groups such as the GenerationR Young People’s Advisory Group at Leeds General Infirmary where the research from the YSRCYP is disseminated to young people in accessible forms.
This contract is reliant on the Data Recipient maintaining the continued support for use of confidential patient information without consent, according to regulations made under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 (20CAG0133).
The study has support under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 to enable the common law duty of confidentiality to be temporarily lifted so that confidential patient information can be processed without consent.
Where individuals have opted out of disease registration by the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), their data has been permanently removed from the registry and therefore will not be disseminated under this Data Sharing Agreement (DSA). https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/patients/opting-out
Expected output
The expected outputs of the processing will be:
• A report of findings to the Candlelighters Trust on an annual basis.
• Submissions to peer reviewed journals, expected to be at least two submissions per year.
• Presentations to the Candlelighters Trust as well as local and regional clinical and research seminars.
• Presentations at Cancer Research UK, National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences.
• Publication of infographics on the YSRCCYP’s website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
• A database to be utilised as a resource for health research.
The outputs will not contain NHS England data and will only contain aggregated information with small numbers suppressed as appropriate in line with the relevant disclosure rules for the dataset(s) from which the information was derived.
The outputs will be communicated to relevant recipients through the following dissemination channels:
• Journals (e.g. BMC Cancer)
• Workshops involving clinicians and researchers working in the childhood and young adult cancer field, e.g. NCRI TYA and Germ Cell tumour Clinical Services Group.
• Webinars open to academic and clinical researchers in the UK.
• Social media
• Posters displayed at Cancer Research UK, CCLG, TYAC and SIOP conferences.
• Patient Information leaflets available at the YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk.
• Press/media engagement
• Public promotion of the research, e.g. Be Curious event at the University of Leeds.
The target dates for production and dissemination of the outputs are:
• Journals: 2 per year, e.g. germ cell tumour dose intensity paper to be submitted by July 2023, early mortality paper to be submitted by Dec 2024, cardio-metabolic paper to be submitted by Dec 2024. Analyses describing educational outcomes will be submitted for publication by Summer 2025 to the International Journal of Cancer (or similar). Work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific cardio-metabolic disease by Summer 2025. Risks of kidney toxicity will be submitted for publication by Summer 2024 in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar). Risks of anxiety, depression and overall mental health disorders will be submitted for publication by Winter 2025 in the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
• Workshops involving clinicians and researchers working in the childhood and young adult cancer field, e.g. NCRI TYA and Germ Cell tumour Clinical Services Group: 3 per year.
• Webinars open to academic and clinical researchers in the UK: 2 per year.
• Social media: coinciding with each journal publication, 2 per year.
• Posters displayed at Cancer Research UK, CCLG, TYAC and SIOP conferences: 3 per year.
• Patient Information leaflets available at the YSRCCYP website: www.ysrccyp.org.uk: ongoing and updated regularly.
• Press/media engagement: coinciding with each journal publication, 2 per year.
• Public promotion of the research, e.g. Be Curious event at the University of Leeds: twice per year.
Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2025. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2025). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (Summer 2025).
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (www.ysrccyp.org.uk), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
All outputs will be aggregated with small number suppression in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st May 2027. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2027 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Benefits reported
Update as provided on the annual confirmation report submitted 21/12/2023
Multiple peer-reviewed publications describing the epidemiology and long-term outcomes for children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire.
A full list can be found here:
https://ysrccyp.org.uk/research/publications/
Some specific examples:
1) The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them. It has enabled childhood and young adult cancer survivors and their families to understand more about their own risk of developing these longer-term health problems according to their original diagnosis and treatment, and at what age they are most likely to appear. In effect, young cancer patients have been able to take ownership of their own survivorship.
2) The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary of the latest literature relating to late consequences of cancer treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy. This has provided awareness and information to cancer survivors from Yorkshire about reproductive outcomes to enable them to plan fertility storage at the earliest opportunity and maximise the chances of having
their own offspring. Additionally, the identification of a sparsity of evidence on outcomes of ovarian and testicular tissue resulted in establishment of a multi-centre initiative to establish a population based register of individuals with stored ovarian and testicular tissue in the United Kingdom (UK).
3) It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and their relationship to subsequent morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire. This information has been made available to the clinical community in Yorkshire in the form of research papers, regular webinars and infographics so that those health professionals looking after young cancer survivors are able
to inform them of their risks of morbidity depending on their original cancer diagnosis and treatment, and at what age these are likely to be develop.
4) It has allowed researchers to quantify the prevalence and spectrum of mental health problems found in adult survivors of childhood cancer, based on a systematic review of the current evidence. Problems ranged from depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and drug misuse. Factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems included treatment with high-dose anthracyclines, cranial irradiation, diagnoses of sarcoma or central nervous system tumours and ongoing physical ill health. The review recommended further work to identify
childhood cancer patients who are at risk of developing late mental health morbidity.
5)The first comprehensive analysis of hospital mental health episodes following CTYA cancer treatment (Friend, PhD thesis, 2020), preceded by a systematic review of the current evidence (Friend et al, Int J Cancer 2018).
6)The YSRCCYP research team found that the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative paediatric late-effects risk stratification system can be effectively and safely applied to cancer patients aged 18-39, independent of ethnicity or socioeconomic position. This evidence has supported clinical services in Yorkshire and further afield across the UK to safely adopt risk-stratified care pathways for the long term follow up of individuals living with and beyond
cancer.
DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v5.14 20 October 2022 to 30 January 2024
- Title
- Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 8
- Files released
- 62
Datasets: Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set; Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS); Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E); Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC); Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP); Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS); Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS); Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS)
What changed from DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v4.6
Text removed is struck through; text added is underlined. Unchanged paragraphs are summarised rather than repeated.
| Field | Was | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | 2022-10-20 | |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 – s261(7); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. |
Datasets:
− HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency; − HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care; − HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds
require record level Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Mental Health data for a specific cohort for the period from 1996/97 to 2021/22 (or latest available data). The University of Leeds already
holds identifiable Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and Mental Health data for
a specific
this
cohort which will be used, alongside data collected in the Yorkshire Specialist
[6 words unchanged]
Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme.
Under this Agreement the University of Leeds requests continuing access to HES and Mental Health data including the most recent data. Continued access to data held by NHS Digital allows researchers at the University of Leeds to continue to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research.
The justification for processing the data by University of Leeds is Article 6 (1) (E) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for the performance of a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller). The justification for the processing of the special category data (health data) by University of Leeds is Article 9 (2)(J) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded solely by the Candlelighters Trust (https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/). The Candlelighters Trust do not determine how data is collated or processed for the study and will only access data that is aggregated with small numbers suppressed.
The YSRCCYP is a regional
population-based
population based
register containing
detailed
detailed, record-level
demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer
and benign central nervous system tumours
since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people.
Spanning an area
The purpose
of
15,000 square kilometres,
the
Yorkshire
YSRCCYP is to facilitate population-based epidemiological
and
Humber SHA comprises a range of urban and rural communities with a significant ethnic minority population resident in parts of West Yorkshire.
health services research.
The purpose of the YSRCCYP is to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research. The use of HES and Mental Health data contributes to this by providing additional information that can be linked with and analysed with data from the YSRCCYP data. The HES and Mental Health data are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
Historically, cancer registration records have been identified primarily through hospital records involving manual abstraction of information from hospital notes. In recent years, the data controller has established a secure, electronic feed of information from local patient management and pathology systems (including the Patient Pathway Management (PPM) within NHS Trusts across Yorkshire), the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) , as well as primary care datasets, in order to improve the efficiency of the Yorkshire Register data collection. This flow of data is covered under section 251 approval from the HRA CAG to address the common law duty confidence.
The YSRCCYP is a population-based register, inclusion is based on their residential address at diagnosis. Any individuals being treated in Yorkshire hospitals but resident outside the region will be excluded. Those on the register who move away from the Region remain included in case of any follow-up treatment or care. All patient information is retained beyond the age of 30 years for the purpose of tracking their long-term cancer outcomes.
From October 2021 NCRAS became part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) service managed by NHS Digital. Data continues to flow to University of Leeds from the NDRS service, however this a separate flow of data to the data disseminated under this Agreement, and the two sets of data are not linked in any way.
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP, either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. This flow of information falls under GDPR article’s 6(1)(e) and 9(2)(j), and is covered by the studies section 251 support. Patients are made aware of this flow of data through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement.
Where data on cancer diagnosis and treatment are missing or incomplete from the electronic data sources, the study team manually abstract information from local hospital notes and patient management systems. The data comprises personal and demographic information (e.g. name, date of birth, address, postcode) along with diagnostic and clinical data on treatment (chemotherapy drugs and doses, radiotherapy site and dose, surgery). More recently, enhanced treatment information on chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be obtained through NCRAS, including the national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT). All data provided form third-party sources are added to the registry at a pseudonymised level. The data provided from NHS Digital is not added to the registry, comparison on participants is made using only a pseudonymised patient ID. No attempt is made to re-identify a participant using either the data from NHS Digital or any data within the registry.
The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner.
Data on
11,000
12,000
patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and
Mental Health
mental health
data
is
was
required for only
10,500
9,000,
as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under
approval of
this
request
Agreement
will consist of approximately
10,500
9,000
patients.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by and at the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded by the Candlelighters Trust and Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust.
The YSRCCYP is a population-based register, inclusion is based on the patient's residential address at diagnosis. Any individuals being treated in Yorkshire hospitals but resident outside the region will be excluded. Those on the register who move away from the Region remain included in case of any follow-up treatment or care. All patient information is retained beyond the age of 30 years for the purpose of tracking their long-term cancer outcomes.
The current research focus is on hospital workload around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population.
The sole data controller is the University of Leeds. The legal basis for dealing with people’s personal data for research data, is ‘task in the public interest’, or in other words, the University are collecting data that they need in order to complete their research, which aims to improve healthcare for the general public. This flow of information falls under GDPR Articles 6(1)(e) and 9(2)(j), and is also covered by the study's section 251 approval from the HRA CAG to permit the common law duty of confidentiality to be temporarily lifted. The justification for processing the data by University of Leeds is Article 6 (1)(e) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for the performance of a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller). The justification for the processing of the special category data (health data) by University of Leeds is Article 9 (2)(j) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations.
Patients are made aware of all data flows through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement which is published on the University of Leeds website.
The data controller involves members of the public and participants through presentations of results. Feedback from presentations researchers have made to families and cancer survivors, have shown that they are hugely grateful for the Register and research carried out on their behalf. Those attending these presentations felt that they had been sufficiently informed about the research, and are comfortable and supportive of the need to collect and process this data without informed consent.
The YSRCCYP research database has its' own Scientific Advisory Group which includes representation from the following areas – university research, public health, clinical medicine, health care professionals, patients and lay persons. The Advisory Group is responsible for ensuring that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure the physical security of the data and its release. The Advisory group do not access or determine how the data under this Agreement will be used and are therefore not deemed to be data controllers.
The data under this Agreement will be compared with (but not linked with) data on inpatient hospital admissions and Mental Health data for the general population in Yorkshire under the age of 65 derived from the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK). General population data will be compared with a population of the same age range in the cohort who were diagnosed with childhood or young adult cancer. The aim is to assess whether certain hospital admissions are more (or less) common amongst a population of survivors of childhood and young adult cancers following treatment compared to the general population. The risk of admissions of a certain diagnosis in the cancer population will be compared to that in the general population. The YSRCCYP research team aims to look at the whole admission pattern of patients, not simply those that occur in the primary diagnosis fields and therefore require an episode level extract as opposed to aggregated counts of admission.
The HES and mental health data are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
Firstly in order to address aim 1 and 4-6 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer; also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
1) To describe the total burden of
physical and mental health
hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify clinical
[7 words unchanged]
of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
3) To calculate the risks and costs to the NHS of adverse
physical and mental
health events requiring hospital admission for survivors of cancer in this age group so that clinicians can provide appropriate follow-up care.
To address aim 1 above the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and Mental Health data to investigate long term risks of respiratory and mental health illness in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for YSRCCYP members in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 60 at admission (the oldest person currently registered in the database). This separate extract is covered under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK).
4) To identify the risks of cardio-metabolic disease in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors. Specific risk markers for cardiovascular disease plus metabolic factors associated with metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes will be collected. The study team will also obtain a range of additional biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. This data will facilitate a programme of research assessing the prevalence of endocrine complications and cardiometabolic late effects in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors.
5)i)To identify the impact of cancer treatment on kidney toxicity and mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. In this project researchers aim to enhance the treatment data held in the register through linkage with the national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) dataset and hospital electronic prescribing systems such as ChemoCare*. It is hoped this will enable researchers to compare the chemotherapy doses and intensities given to patients with the same tumour types and see if this has any effect on outcomes including survival and relapse. Researchers may also be able to look at the toxicities experienced by patients by reviewing routine measurements and blood tests collected prior to chemotherapy. From this, researchers may be able to see if any dose modifications were made as a result and again look at whether this had any effect on patient outcome. By comparing patients treated at different hospitals. researchers may, for some tumour types, be able to see whether, and if so how, practices differ between Principal Treatment Centres and peripheral hospitals.
ii) An extension of this project is to look in more detail at the impact of cancer treatments on kidney toxicity. Routine bloods tests and measurements held will be enhanced by the collection of urinary analyses, microbiology results, radioisotope measurements and the prescription of any anti-hypertensive medications. These additional fields will give researchers a greater insight into the kidney toxicity caused.
*Please note, the data added to the YSRCCYP from data sources such as ChemoCare, will never be linked to NHS Digital at record level. Only aggregated outputs with small numbers suppressed will be compared.
6) To provide contextual information on existing physical and mental health morbidity when evaluating educational and employment outcomes. As part of the ongoing research the study team collect additional information for patients on the register attending the long-term follow-up clinics at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Patients attending these clinics complete a holistic needs assessment which includes the completion of the distress thermometer and a problems check list. These data items are used as a measure of psychological health to assess the prevalence of distress in long term cancer survivors and the associations between patient characteristics and levels of distress.
To address aims 1 and 4, the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and Mental Health data to investigate long term risks of all major morbidity (e.g. cardio-metabolic, respiratory, mental health illness) in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for YSRCCYP members in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 65 at admission (the oldest person currently registered in the database). This separate extract is covered under Agreement DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK.
To address aims 2 and 3 evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total burden of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and mental health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
Rates of admission within the cancer survivors have previously been compared to pseudonymised hospital admission rates to work out standardised hospitalization admission ratios and assess whether these differed according to cancer diagnosis, treatment, ethnic group, gender, age group, period of diagnosis and socioeconomic status, using statistical models adjusting for patient case-mix while also incorporating the general background hospital admission rates. (Althumairi, University of Leeds, 2017). To address aim 3 this process will be repeated using the latest data with a focus on specific disease groups, including cardio-metabolic, kidney disease, anxiety and depression, as well as total physical and mental health morbidity data, using a similar methodology as the YSRCCYP research team’s previously published work on cardiovascular disease, respiratory morbidity and cumulative burden.
Aim 4 will examine the lifelong risk for the development of endocrine complications or adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes attributable to the cancer and/or treatment with a specific focus on these risks in relation to ethnic group and socio-economic status.
Aim 5 will enable the YSRCCYP research team to estimate the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression among the Yorkshire survivorship cohort, whether this risk has changed over time and the points at which it may appear in the survivor's cancer treatment. The key clinical factors which influence the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression will also be identified.
A current research focus is on hospital burden around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population. Using data from March 2020 onwards, the study team will examine any changes in the long-term health risks by identifying those individuals in the cohort who tested positive for Sars-Cov-2 infection.
Aim 6 will provide important clinical information on existing health problems, identified from HES data, when describing educational attainment and employment trajectories for the young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire. Specifically, those with existing health problems will be identified and this information will be taken into account as a potential confounding factor when examining the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes among the entire survivor cohort. Furthermore, the YSRCCYP research team will be able to determine whether the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes are exacerbated for those with pre-existing illness.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a patient’s Covid-19 status and related data (such as date positive status was confirmed and shielding status) are also collected. This enables an analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on cancer treatments for children and young people (such as delays in treatment or non-start of treatments) and long-term health and social outcomes. Also resulting from the changes to working practices in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, data collection is completed remotely where possible. Approval has been obtained from NHS Trusts for remote access to digitalised patient notes.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations. The research will also have the potential to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term health outcomes since March 2020.
A PPI workshop took place in January 2022, organised by the Yorkshire Register research team, DATA-CAN (HDR-UK) and the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) where the YSRCCYP research team sought individuals’ views on opting out for those who were diagnosed with cancer under the age of 19 and who were currently aged 16-24 years. The YSRCCYP research team also invited carers of children with cancer to attend. Participants appeared to be reassured that there was a clear process for opting out but raised the point that by opting out this would cause problems for researchers. There was a strong view that opting out would jeopardise the ability to enable complete data sharing for research purposes in relation to rare cancers so that better treatments can be developed, with fewer side effects and long-term complications
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The University of Leeds has considered the moral and ethical issues and believe these are outweighed by benefits. Feedback from presentations researchers have made to families and cancer survivors have shown that they are hugely grateful for the Register and research carried out on their behalf. Those attending these presentations felt that they had been sufficiently informed about the research, and are comfortable and supportive of the need to collect and process this data without informed consent.
UofL are keen to access data by gender, deprivation, ethnicity (South Asian, Black, White, other) as well as age to allow them to draw accurate comparisons with the cancer cohort.
All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract ie: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
Processing activities
The University of Leeds will securely transfer files of identifiers for patients in the YSRCCYP (NHS Number, Date of birth, sex and postcode plus a unique study ID) to NHS Digital. NHS Digital will return linked HES and Mental Health data up to the period 2019/20 including the unique study ID and no other identifiers.
All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract i.e.: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
The University of Leeds stores the data on an encrypted secure area network (SEED), with access being restricted to individuals working on the YSRCCYP register research programme. Access to the record level data will only be by substantive employees of the University of Leeds and located within the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics/School of Medicine. All individuals who will be granted access to this data set will have received training in data protection and confidentiality.
The YSRCCYP research team undertake the following processing activities:
No NHS Digital data will be transferred outside of the University of Leeds or shared with any third party individual or organisation apart from a) where stored at 2 disaster recovery sites at the University of York and Iron Mountain, where data will be stored only for the purpose of disaster recovery and not processed for any other purpose.
The University of Leeds will securely transfer files of identifiers for patients in the YSRCCYP (NHS Number, Date of birth, sex and postcode plus a unique study ID) to NHS Digital. NHS Digital will return HES data up to the period 2021/22 latest available including the unique study ID and no other identifiers.
Iron Mountain supply a disaster recovery site for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They supply support to the system, but do not access data. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement. This includes granting of access to the database[s] containing the data.
On receipt of cohort linked data the YSRCCYP research team undertake the following processing activities:
Microsoft Limited supply Cloud Services for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They supply support to the system, but do not access data. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement.
The cohort linked data (HES and mental health) and the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK), are stored in separate files and are distinct from the YSRCCYP data itself. The pseudonymised HES extract will not be linked to the cohort data supplied by NHS Digital or in the YSRCCYP database. Different pseudonymised HES IDs will ensure this is not possible.
On receipt of cohort linked data (HES and mental health) the YSRCCYP research team undertake the following processing activities:
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
The data will be compared with (but not linked with) data on inpatient hospital admissions for the general population in Yorkshire under the age of 60 derived from the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK). General population data will be compared with a population of the same age range in the cohort who were diagnosed with childhood or young adult cancer. The aim is to assess whether certain hospital admissions are more (or less) common amongst a population of survivors of childhood and young adult cancers following treatment compared to the general population. The risk of admissions of a certain diagnosis in the cancer population will be compared to that in the general population. The YSRCCYP research team aims to look at the whole admission pattern of patients, not simply those that occur in the primary diagnosis fields and therefore require an episode level extract as opposed to aggregated counts of admission.
All data is held locally at the University of Leeds, on encrypted hard drives, in a highly secure environment. Extreme care and attention is paid to maintaining the security and confidentiality of the YSRCCYP research database.
The YSRCCYP research team requires data from the full period from 1996/97 to 2019/20 (or latest available data) for several reasons. Firstly, in order to address aim 1 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer. Also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
In summary the following physical precautions are in place to protect the data under this Agreement:
Evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total burden of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and Mental Health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
· Only those essential members of staff who work on the YSRCCYP research database and require direct access to the data are granted authorisation.
For data from the Mental Health (MHSDS, MHLDDS, MHMDS) data sets, and any Mental Health data linked to HES or SUS, the following disclosure control rules must be applied:
· All users of the LASER system must sign a confidentiality agreement, which includes stipulating that security and confidentiality must be maintained. Certain breaches of security could lead to disciplinary and legal action being taken.
• National-level figures only may be presented unrounded, without small number suppression
· The data is held on an encrypted firewall-protected area of the University of Leeds IRC.
• Suppress all numbers between 0 and 5
· Daily back-ups are taken to ensure the integrity of the data and held off-site.
• Round all other numbers to the nearest 5
Personally identifiable information is held subject to the following conditions:
• Percentages can be calculated based on unrounded values, but need to be rounded to the nearest integer in any outputs
· No information is ever published in which individuals can be identified.
• In addition for Learning Disability data in Mental Health (MHSDS, MHLDDS, MHMDS), the England-level data also must apply the suppression of all numbers between 0 and 5, and rounding of other numbers to the nearest 5.
· No individuals on the YSRCCYP research database are ever approached directly.
NHS Digital data will be handled in line with the HES analysis guide and the disclosure control rules as applicable.
· Data are only released according to the requirements of the Information Governance Policy which specifies the circumstances for data release.
Data will be held indefinitely enabling the accrual of an ever-increasing dataset relating to cancer in young people and allowing more powerful statistical comparisons to be performed and the effects of risk factors estimated more precisely.
The University of Leeds presently stores the data on an encrypted secure area network (SEED), however under this version of this Agreement The University of Leeds is requesting to migrate the data to Microsoft Azure. Access to data stored on the cloud will be restricted to individuals working on the YSRCCYP register research programme. Access to the record level data will only be by substantive employees of the University of Leeds and located within the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (School of Medicine). No NHS Digital data will be transferred outside of the University of Leeds or shared with any third-party individual or organisation.
The cohort linked data (HES and mental health) and the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK), are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Both datasets are distinct from the YSRCCYP data itself. The pseudonymised HES extract will not be linked to the cohort data supplied by NHS Digital or in the YSRCCYP database. Different pseudonymised HES IDs will ensure this is not possible.
The HES and mental health data disseminated under this agreement are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
Data will only be used for the purposes described in this Agreement. The NHS Digital data will not be linked to any other data apart from YSRCCYP data (including linked data as listed on the Data Flow Diagram), however NHS Digital data will never be uploaded to the YSRCCYP research database.
Microsoft Limited provide Cloud Services for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They supply support to the system, but do not access data. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement. This includes granting of access to the database[s] containing the data.
Expected output
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in International Journal of Cancer in July 2019. This follows a June 2016 publication where descriptive statistics have been produced showing the respiratory conditions diagnosed within the linked cohort. The background admission rates in the general population are required over the same time period to enable further statistical analysis to be carried out. Outcomes of the work will also be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Further work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific mental health outcomes by Spring 2021. Analyses describing the variation in clinical pathways including delays and time to diagnosis will be submitted for publication by June 2021 to Journal of Clinical Oncology (or similar).
Summaries of the results will be presented orally at conferences and are intended to be published in academic or medical journals. All outputs will be aggregated with small numbers suppressed and in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
Additional work describing the rates of hospital activity and differences between ages at diagnosis (e.g. 0-14 vs 15-29) and ethnic group (e.g. south Asian vs non-south Asian) will be completed by April 2021 and submitted for publication to the British Journal of Cancer by July 2021. Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2021. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in International Journal of Cancer in 2020. Work describing the applicability of risk-stratified levels of aftercare in predicting long-term morbidity in young adults was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship in 2020 Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to the cumulative burden of subsequent neoplasms, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in Cancer Epidemiology in 2020.
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-institute-cardiovascular-metabolic-medicine/doc/yorkshire-specialist-register-cancer-children-young-people/), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
Further outputs will be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Analyses describing educational outcomes will be submitted for publication by Summer 2023 to the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
Work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific cardio-metabolic disease by Summer 2024. Risks of kidney toxicity will be submitted for publication by Summer 2024 in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar) by Summer 2024. Risks of anxiety, depression and overall mental health disorders will be submitted for publication by Winter 2024 in the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2024. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (www.ysrccyp.org.uk), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
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As the funder, the Candlelighters Trust may request information for use in its own information dissemination and publicity materials. For example, they may ask for the number of new cases diagnosed per year in Yorkshire and projected incidence rates. The University of Leeds would only share information that is available as a result of the processing activities described above – i.e. the YSRCCYP would not undertake further data processing in order to derive information requested by the Candlelighters Trust and any information shared would be put in the public domain. For clarity, the University of Leeds is not obliged to provide information on request to the Candlelighters Trust and would only share data that are aggregated with small numbers suppressed in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2024). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (Summer 2024).
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2021). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (June 2021).
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Data will be held for as long as the research project is
[5 words unchanged]
of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st August
2025.
2027.
Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December
2025
2027
to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Results of the primary care admission analysis will be published in the British Journal of Cancer by December 2021.
Expected measurable benefits
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1. Improved patient care. This work will
aim to
identify to
clinicians, commissioners and patients themselves of
clinicians
those individuals
within the cohort
who are at greatest risk of hospitalization; this will enable follow-up practices
[10 words unchanged]
problems early and intervene so that patient wellbeing is maximized and NHS
workload
burden
minimized. For example, those individuals identified
from the risk stratification model
as being at greatest risk of
cardio-metabolic,
mental health
and kidney
illness will be offered additional support from NHS services (e.g. psychiatry, social
[8 words unchanged]
risks of depression following cancer treatment will help to describe the NHS
workload
burden
of mental health problems in this vulnerable population. This knowledge will be
[66 words unchanged]
of the results of the risk stratification via the hospital consultant team.
Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December 2020.
2. Evaluation of treatments to identify best practice and guidance. Work to
[42 words unchanged]
which minimize these complications. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by
June 2021.
Summer 2024.
3. Evaluation of service provision. Highlight any inequalities in access to specialist
[81 words unchanged]
served equally well. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December
2021.
2024.
4. Financial planning. Information on hospital activity
workload
burden
and NHS costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment of children and
[89 words unchanged]
NHS patient demand. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December
2021.
2025.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
* to clinicians to help better manage their clinic populations,
* to clinicians top improve the treatment of cohort patients under their care
[4 paragraphs unchanged]
ii) South Asians as they are more likely to present with cancer due to genetic risk factors. Improving care for teenagers and young adults and the south Asian population will ensure that their survival rates are optimal and equivalent to other age groups and ethnic groups, and any subsequent complications of treatment are minimized and if these do occur are then managed appropriately by specialist NHS professionals to ensure a full recovery.
Outputs will be integrated into clinical practice through established links between the YSRCCYP research team and paediatric and adolescent oncologists throughout the Yorkshire region. The research programme as a whole benefits enormously from the long-running, close collaboration with haematologists and oncologists in the Yorkshire and the Humber region who all help to ensure that the University's research findings are effectively translated into clinical practice and are involved in all outputs from the YSRCCYP database.
Outputs, such as the risk stratification model, will be integrated into clinical practice through established links between the YSRCCYP research team and paediatric and adolescent oncologists throughout the Yorkshire region. The research programme as a whole benefits enormously from the long-running, close collaboration with haematologists and oncologists in the Yorkshire and the Humber region who all help to ensure that the University's research findings are effectively translated into clinical practice and are involved in all outputs from the YSRCCYP database.
Benefits reported
iii. Yielded Benefits :
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• The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS
specialist
services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers
in relation to childhood and young adult cancer
survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them.
It has enabled childhood and young adult cancer survivors and their families to understand more about their own risk of developing these longer-term health problems according to their original diagnosis and treatment, and at what age they are most likely to appear. In effect, young cancer patients have been able to take ownership of their own survivorship.
• The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary
[10 words unchanged]
treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy.
This has provided awareness and information to cancer survivors from Yorkshire about reproductive outcomes to enable them to plan fertility storage at the earliest opportunity and maximise the chances of having their own offspring. Additionally, the identification of a sparsity of evidence on outcomes of ovarian and testicular tissue resulted in establishment of a multi-centre initiative to establish a population based register of individuals with stored ovarian and testicular tissue in the United Kingdom (UK).
• It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and
[6 words unchanged]
mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire.
By age 40, cumulative incidence for an admission for any type
This information has been made available to the clinical community in Yorkshire in the form
of
respiratory condition was almost 50%. Respiratory admission rates were almost 2 times higher in
research papers, regular webinars and infographics so that those health professionals looking after young
cancer survivors
than in the general population. Treatment with chemotherapy with known lung toxicity increased the risk
are able to inform them
of
admission for all respiratory conditions. Subsequent mortality was highest in those admitted for pneumonia compared
their risks of morbidity depending on their original cancer diagnosis and treatment, and at what age these are likely
to
other respiratory conditions.
be develop..
[1 paragraph unchanged]
• The first comprehensive analysis of hospital mental health episodes following CTYA cancer treatment (Friend, PhD thesis, 2020), preceded by a systematic review of the current evidence (Friend et al, Int J Cancer 2018).
• The YSRCCYP research team found that the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative paediatric late-effects risk stratification system can be effectively and safely applied to cancer patients aged 18-29, independent of ethnicity or socioeconomic position. This evidence has supported clinical services in Yorkshire and further afield across the UK to safely adopt risk-stratified care pathways for the long term follow up of individuals living with and beyond cancer.
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds require record level Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Mental Health data for a specific cohort for the period from 1996/97 to 2021/22 (or latest available data). The University of Leeds already holds identifiable Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and Mental Health data for this cohort which will be used, alongside data collected in the Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded solely by the Candlelighters Trust (https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/). The Candlelighters Trust do not determine how data is collated or processed for the study and will only access data that is aggregated with small numbers suppressed.
The YSRCCYP is a regional population based register containing detailed, record-level demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer and benign central nervous system tumours since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people. The purpose of the YSRCCYP is to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research.
Historically, cancer registration records have been identified primarily through hospital records involving manual abstraction of information from hospital notes. In recent years, the data controller has established a secure, electronic feed of information from local patient management and pathology systems (including the Patient Pathway Management (PPM) within NHS Trusts across Yorkshire), the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) , as well as primary care datasets, in order to improve the efficiency of the Yorkshire Register data collection. This flow of data is covered under section 251 approval from the HRA CAG to address the common law duty confidence.
From October 2021 NCRAS became part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) service managed by NHS Digital. Data continues to flow to University of Leeds from the NDRS service, however this a separate flow of data to the data disseminated under this Agreement, and the two sets of data are not linked in any way.
Where data on cancer diagnosis and treatment are missing or incomplete from the electronic data sources, the study team manually abstract information from local hospital notes and patient management systems. The data comprises personal and demographic information (e.g. name, date of birth, address, postcode) along with diagnostic and clinical data on treatment (chemotherapy drugs and doses, radiotherapy site and dose, surgery). More recently, enhanced treatment information on chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be obtained through NCRAS, including the national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Dataset (SACT). All data provided form third-party sources are added to the registry at a pseudonymised level. The data provided from NHS Digital is not added to the registry, comparison on participants is made using only a pseudonymised patient ID. No attempt is made to re-identify a participant using either the data from NHS Digital or any data within the registry.
Data on 12,000 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and mental health data was required for only 9,000, as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under this Agreement will consist of approximately 9,000 patients.
The YSRCCYP is a population-based register, inclusion is based on the patient's residential address at diagnosis. Any individuals being treated in Yorkshire hospitals but resident outside the region will be excluded. Those on the register who move away from the Region remain included in case of any follow-up treatment or care. All patient information is retained beyond the age of 30 years for the purpose of tracking their long-term cancer outcomes.
The sole data controller is the University of Leeds. The legal basis for dealing with people’s personal data for research data, is ‘task in the public interest’, or in other words, the University are collecting data that they need in order to complete their research, which aims to improve healthcare for the general public. This flow of information falls under GDPR Articles 6(1)(e) and 9(2)(j), and is also covered by the study's section 251 approval from the HRA CAG to permit the common law duty of confidentiality to be temporarily lifted. The justification for processing the data by University of Leeds is Article 6 (1)(e) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for the performance of a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller). The justification for the processing of the special category data (health data) by University of Leeds is Article 9 (2)(j) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
Patients are made aware of all data flows through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement which is published on the University of Leeds website.
The data controller involves members of the public and participants through presentations of results. Feedback from presentations researchers have made to families and cancer survivors, have shown that they are hugely grateful for the Register and research carried out on their behalf. Those attending these presentations felt that they had been sufficiently informed about the research, and are comfortable and supportive of the need to collect and process this data without informed consent.
The YSRCCYP research database has its' own Scientific Advisory Group which includes representation from the following areas – university research, public health, clinical medicine, health care professionals, patients and lay persons. The Advisory Group is responsible for ensuring that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure the physical security of the data and its release. The Advisory group do not access or determine how the data under this Agreement will be used and are therefore not deemed to be data controllers.
The data under this Agreement will be compared with (but not linked with) data on inpatient hospital admissions and Mental Health data for the general population in Yorkshire under the age of 65 derived from the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK). General population data will be compared with a population of the same age range in the cohort who were diagnosed with childhood or young adult cancer. The aim is to assess whether certain hospital admissions are more (or less) common amongst a population of survivors of childhood and young adult cancers following treatment compared to the general population. The risk of admissions of a certain diagnosis in the cancer population will be compared to that in the general population. The YSRCCYP research team aims to look at the whole admission pattern of patients, not simply those that occur in the primary diagnosis fields and therefore require an episode level extract as opposed to aggregated counts of admission.
The HES and mental health data are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
Firstly in order to address aim 1 and 4-6 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer; also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
The YSRCCYP research team’s research plans include the following objectives:
1) To describe the total burden of physical and mental health hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
3) To calculate the risks and costs to the NHS of adverse physical and mental health events requiring hospital admission for survivors of cancer in this age group so that clinicians can provide appropriate follow-up care.
4) To identify the risks of cardio-metabolic disease in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors. Specific risk markers for cardiovascular disease plus metabolic factors associated with metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes will be collected. The study team will also obtain a range of additional biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. This data will facilitate a programme of research assessing the prevalence of endocrine complications and cardiometabolic late effects in long-term childhood and young adult cancer survivors.
5)i)To identify the impact of cancer treatment on kidney toxicity and mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. In this project researchers aim to enhance the treatment data held in the register through linkage with the national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) dataset and hospital electronic prescribing systems such as ChemoCare*. It is hoped this will enable researchers to compare the chemotherapy doses and intensities given to patients with the same tumour types and see if this has any effect on outcomes including survival and relapse. Researchers may also be able to look at the toxicities experienced by patients by reviewing routine measurements and blood tests collected prior to chemotherapy. From this, researchers may be able to see if any dose modifications were made as a result and again look at whether this had any effect on patient outcome. By comparing patients treated at different hospitals. researchers may, for some tumour types, be able to see whether, and if so how, practices differ between Principal Treatment Centres and peripheral hospitals.
ii) An extension of this project is to look in more detail at the impact of cancer treatments on kidney toxicity. Routine bloods tests and measurements held will be enhanced by the collection of urinary analyses, microbiology results, radioisotope measurements and the prescription of any anti-hypertensive medications. These additional fields will give researchers a greater insight into the kidney toxicity caused.
*Please note, the data added to the YSRCCYP from data sources such as ChemoCare, will never be linked to NHS Digital at record level. Only aggregated outputs with small numbers suppressed will be compared.
6) To provide contextual information on existing physical and mental health morbidity when evaluating educational and employment outcomes. As part of the ongoing research the study team collect additional information for patients on the register attending the long-term follow-up clinics at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Patients attending these clinics complete a holistic needs assessment which includes the completion of the distress thermometer and a problems check list. These data items are used as a measure of psychological health to assess the prevalence of distress in long term cancer survivors and the associations between patient characteristics and levels of distress.
To address aims 1 and 4, the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and Mental Health data to investigate long term risks of all major morbidity (e.g. cardio-metabolic, respiratory, mental health illness) in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for YSRCCYP members in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 65 at admission (the oldest person currently registered in the database). This separate extract is covered under Agreement DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK.
To address aims 2 and 3 evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total burden of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and mental health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
Rates of admission within the cancer survivors have previously been compared to pseudonymised hospital admission rates to work out standardised hospitalization admission ratios and assess whether these differed according to cancer diagnosis, treatment, ethnic group, gender, age group, period of diagnosis and socioeconomic status, using statistical models adjusting for patient case-mix while also incorporating the general background hospital admission rates. (Althumairi, University of Leeds, 2017). To address aim 3 this process will be repeated using the latest data with a focus on specific disease groups, including cardio-metabolic, kidney disease, anxiety and depression, as well as total physical and mental health morbidity data, using a similar methodology as the YSRCCYP research team’s previously published work on cardiovascular disease, respiratory morbidity and cumulative burden.
Aim 4 will examine the lifelong risk for the development of endocrine complications or adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes attributable to the cancer and/or treatment with a specific focus on these risks in relation to ethnic group and socio-economic status.
Aim 5 will enable the YSRCCYP research team to estimate the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression among the Yorkshire survivorship cohort, whether this risk has changed over time and the points at which it may appear in the survivor's cancer treatment. The key clinical factors which influence the risk of kidney disease, anxiety and depression will also be identified.
A current research focus is on hospital burden around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population. Using data from March 2020 onwards, the study team will examine any changes in the long-term health risks by identifying those individuals in the cohort who tested positive for Sars-Cov-2 infection.
Aim 6 will provide important clinical information on existing health problems, identified from HES data, when describing educational attainment and employment trajectories for the young people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire. Specifically, those with existing health problems will be identified and this information will be taken into account as a potential confounding factor when examining the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes among the entire survivor cohort. Furthermore, the YSRCCYP research team will be able to determine whether the risks of poor educational or employment outcomes are exacerbated for those with pre-existing illness.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a patient’s Covid-19 status and related data (such as date positive status was confirmed and shielding status) are also collected. This enables an analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on cancer treatments for children and young people (such as delays in treatment or non-start of treatments) and long-term health and social outcomes. Also resulting from the changes to working practices in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, data collection is completed remotely where possible. Approval has been obtained from NHS Trusts for remote access to digitalised patient notes.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations. The research will also have the potential to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term health outcomes since March 2020.
A PPI workshop took place in January 2022, organised by the Yorkshire Register research team, DATA-CAN (HDR-UK) and the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) where the YSRCCYP research team sought individuals’ views on opting out for those who were diagnosed with cancer under the age of 19 and who were currently aged 16-24 years. The YSRCCYP research team also invited carers of children with cancer to attend. Participants appeared to be reassured that there was a clear process for opting out but raised the point that by opting out this would cause problems for researchers. There was a strong view that opting out would jeopardise the ability to enable complete data sharing for research purposes in relation to rare cancers so that better treatments can be developed, with fewer side effects and long-term complications
The YSRCCYP research team require some data items classed as sensitive. These are the Referrer code, which indicates the manner in which the patient was referred to hospital by ascertaining the code of the referring organisation. This allows the YSRCCYP research team to identify particular patient pathways which are associated with an optimal time to diagnosis, a key indicator known to influence survival. Additionally the Consultant code data field is required because it enables the YSRCYYP research team to work out whether patients receive care at specialist cancer centres as opposed to general district hospitals, in order to address important health services research questions such as: ‘Does specialist care improve patient outcomes for children and young people including length of hospital stay and reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality?’. There are currently no databases which link consultant codes to specialist cancer centres for childhood and young adult cancer, so this process needs to be done manually using cohort linked NHS Digital data and the YSRCCYP database.
UofL are keen to access data by gender, deprivation, ethnicity (South Asian, Black, White, other) as well as age to allow them to draw accurate comparisons with the cancer cohort.
Expected output
Summaries of the results will be presented orally at conferences and are intended to be published in academic or medical journals. All outputs will be aggregated with small numbers suppressed and in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in International Journal of Cancer in 2020. Work describing the applicability of risk-stratified levels of aftercare in predicting long-term morbidity in young adults was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship in 2020 Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to the cumulative burden of subsequent neoplasms, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in Cancer Epidemiology in 2020.
Further outputs will be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Analyses describing educational outcomes will be submitted for publication by Summer 2023 to the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
Work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific cardio-metabolic disease by Summer 2024. Risks of kidney toxicity will be submitted for publication by Summer 2024 in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar) by Summer 2024. Risks of anxiety, depression and overall mental health disorders will be submitted for publication by Winter 2024 in the International Journal of Cancer (or similar).
Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2024. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (www.ysrccyp.org.uk), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
All outputs will be aggregated with small number suppression in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2024). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (Summer 2024).
Results will be reported to academic audiences in peer reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. The study also plan to disseminate findings directly to other beneficiaries including cancer patients, their families and clinicians.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st August 2027. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2027 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Benefits reported
The YSRCCYP database has yielded several benefits, for example:
• The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them. It has enabled childhood and young adult cancer survivors and their families to understand more about their own risk of developing these longer-term health problems according to their original diagnosis and treatment, and at what age they are most likely to appear. In effect, young cancer patients have been able to take ownership of their own survivorship.
• The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary of the latest literature relating to late consequences of cancer treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy. This has provided awareness and information to cancer survivors from Yorkshire about reproductive outcomes to enable them to plan fertility storage at the earliest opportunity and maximise the chances of having their own offspring. Additionally, the identification of a sparsity of evidence on outcomes of ovarian and testicular tissue resulted in establishment of a multi-centre initiative to establish a population based register of individuals with stored ovarian and testicular tissue in the United Kingdom (UK).
• It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and their relationship to subsequent morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire. This information has been made available to the clinical community in Yorkshire in the form of research papers, regular webinars and infographics so that those health professionals looking after young cancer survivors are able to inform them of their risks of morbidity depending on their original cancer diagnosis and treatment, and at what age these are likely to be develop..
• It has allowed researchers to quantify the prevalence and spectrum of mental health problems found in adult survivors of childhood cancer, based on a systematic review of the current evidence. Problems ranged from depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and drug misuse. Factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems included treatment with high-dose anthracyclines, cranial irradiation, diagnoses of sarcoma or central nervous system tumours and ongoing physical ill health. The review recommended further work to identify childhood cancer patients who are at risk of developing late mental health morbidity.
• The first comprehensive analysis of hospital mental health episodes following CTYA cancer treatment (Friend, PhD thesis, 2020), preceded by a systematic review of the current evidence (Friend et al, Int J Cancer 2018).
• The YSRCCYP research team found that the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative paediatric late-effects risk stratification system can be effectively and safely applied to cancer patients aged 18-29, independent of ethnicity or socioeconomic position. This evidence has supported clinical services in Yorkshire and further afield across the UK to safely adopt risk-stratified care pathways for the long term follow up of individuals living with and beyond cancer.
DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v4.6 31 January 2021 to 30 January 2024
- Title
- Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 11
- Files released
- 52
Datasets: Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set; Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS); HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency; HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care; HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients; Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E); Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC); Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP); Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS); Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS); Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS)
What changed from DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v3.9
Text removed is struck through; text added is underlined. Unchanged paragraphs are summarised rather than repeated.
| Field | Was | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | 2021-01-31 | |
| End date | 2024-01-30 | |
| Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set: type of data | Identifiable | |
| Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E): legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 - s261 - 'Other dissemination of information'; National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. |
Datasets: + Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS); + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency; + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care; + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds holds
identifiable
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and Mental Health data for a specific
[18 words unchanged]
Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme.
Under this Agreement the University of Leeds requests continuing access to HES and Mental Health data including the most recent data. Continued access to data held by NHS Digital allows researchers at the University of Leeds to continue to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research.
The justification for processing the data by University of Leeds is Article 6 (1) (E) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for the performance of a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller). The justification for the processing of the special category data (health data) by University of Leeds is Article 9 (2)(J) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
[2 paragraphs unchanged]
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner. Data on 9,500 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and Mental Health data is required for only 8,500 as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under approval of this request will consist of approximately 7,000 patients.
The YSRCCYP is a population-based register, inclusion is based on their residential address at diagnosis. Any individuals being treated in Yorkshire hospitals but resident outside the region will be excluded. Those on the register who move away from the Region remain included in case of any follow-up treatment or care. All patient information is retained beyond the age of 30 years for the purpose of tracking their long-term cancer outcomes.
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP, either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. This flow of information falls under GDPR article’s 6(1)(e) and 9(2)(j), and is covered by the studies section 251 support. Patients are made aware of this flow of data through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement.
The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner. Data on 11,000 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and Mental Health data is required for only 10,500 as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under approval of this request will consist of approximately 10,500 patients.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
A
The
current research focus is on hospital workload around the time of diagnosis
[26 words unchanged]
mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population.
[2 paragraphs unchanged]
1) To describe the total
workload
burden
of hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify
[8 words unchanged]
of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
[2 paragraphs unchanged]
To address aim 1 above the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES
[52 words unchanged]
background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate
pseudo-anonymised
pseudonymised
extract of HES data containing all episodes for
patients
YSRCCYP members
in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 60 at admission (the oldest person currently
registered).
registered in the database).
This separate extract is covered under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK).
The YSRCCYP research team require some data items classed as sensitive. These
[140 words unchanged]
be done manually using cohort linked NHS Digital data and the YSRCCYP
database
database.
The University of Leeds has considered the moral and ethical issues and believe these are outweighed by benefits. Feedback from presentations researchers have made to families and cancer survivors have shown that they are hugely grateful for the Register and research carried out on their behalf. Those attending these presentations felt that they had been sufficiently informed about the research, and are comfortable and supportive of the need to collect and process this data without informed consent.
All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract ie: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
Processing activities
The University of Leeds
previously
will
securely
transferred
transfer
files of identifiers for patients in the YSRCCYP (NHS Number, Date of birth, sex and postcode plus a unique study ID) to NHS Digital. NHS Digital
returned
will return
linked HES and Mental Health data up to the period
2014/15
2019/20
including the unique study ID and no other identifiers.
This process will be repeated to obtain more recent HES and Mental Health data for the patients previously linked and to obtain HES and Mental Health data for patients added to the YSRCCYP since the previous linkage.
The University of Leeds stores the data on an encrypted secure area network
(SEED) and
(SEED), with
access
is
being
restricted to individuals working on the YSRCCYP register research programme. Access to
[7 words unchanged]
by substantive employees of the University of Leeds and located within the
Division
Leeds Institute for Data Analytics/School
of
Epidemiology
Medicine. All individuals who will be granted access to this data set will have received training in data protection
and
Biostatistics.
confidentiality.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
Data will not be processed outside of the University of Leeds or shared. All pseudonmyised data will be processed at the University of Leeds.
Iron Mountain supply a disaster recovery site for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They supply support to the system, but do not access data. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement. This includes granting of access to the database[s] containing the data.
The cohort linked data (HES and mental health) and the pseudo-anonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK), are stored in separate files and are distinct from the YSRCCYP data itself. The pseudo-anonymised HES extract will not be linked to the cohort data supplied by NHS Digital or in the YSRCCYP database. Different pseudonymised HES IDs will ensure this is not possible.
Microsoft Limited supply Cloud Services for the University of Leeds and are therefore listed as a data processor. They supply support to the system, but do not access data. Therefore, any access to the data held under this agreement would be considered a breach of the agreement.
The cohort linked data (HES and mental health) and the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK), are stored in separate files and are distinct from the YSRCCYP data itself. The pseudonymised HES extract will not be linked to the cohort data supplied by NHS Digital or in the YSRCCYP database. Different pseudonymised HES IDs will ensure this is not possible.
[2 paragraphs unchanged]
Upon completion of checks, an extract of identifiable data (not NHS Digital data) is taken from the YSRCCYP database and linked to fields from the cohort linked HES data (pseudonymised) to calculate variables such as the duration from admission to death and age at admission where such variables are relevant to specific research questions.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
Upon completion of checks, an extract of identifiable data (Date of Death and Date of Birth) is taken from the YSRCCYP database and linked to fields from the cohort linked HES data to calculate variables such as the duration from admission to death and age at admission where such variables are relevant to specific research questions.
The data will be compared with (but not linked with) data on inpatient hospital admissions for the general population in Yorkshire under the age of 60 derived from the pseudonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK). General population data will be compared with a population of the same age range in the cohort who were diagnosed with childhood or young adult cancer. The aim is to assess whether certain hospital admissions are more (or less) common amongst a population of survivors of childhood and young adult cancers following treatment compared to the general population. The risk of admissions of a certain diagnosis in the cancer population will be compared to that in the general population. The YSRCCYP research team aims to look at the whole admission pattern of patients, not simply those that occur in the primary diagnosis fields and therefore require an episode level extract as opposed to aggregated counts of admission.
The data will be compared with (but not linked with) data on inpatient hospital admissions for the general population in Yorkshire under the age of 60 derived from the pseudo-anonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK). General population data will be compared with a population of the same age range in the cohort who were diagnosed with childhood or young adult cancer. The aim is to assess whether certain hospital admissions are more (or less) common amongst a population of survivors of childhood and young adult cancers following treatment compared to the general population. The risk of admissions of a certain diagnosis in the cancer population will be compared to that in the general population. The YSRCCYP research team aims to look at the whole admission pattern of patients, not simply those that occur in the primary diagnosis fields and therefore require an episode level extract as opposed to aggregated counts of admission.
The YSRCCYP research team requires data from the full period from 1996/97 to 2019/20 (or latest available data) for several reasons. Firstly, in order to address aim 1 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer. Also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
Summaries of the results will be presented orally at conferences and are intended to be published in academic or medical journals. All outputs will be aggregated with small numbers suppressed and in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
Evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total burden of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and Mental Health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
NHS Digital data will only be accessed by substantive employees of University of Leeds or any one working under honorary contract. Data will only be used for the purposes described in this agreement.
For data from the Mental Health (MHSDS, MHLDDS, MHMDS) data sets, and any Mental Health data linked to HES or SUS, the following disclosure control rules must be applied:
The YSRCCYP research team requires data from the full period from 1996/97 to 2018/19 (latest available) for several reasons. Firstly in order to address aim 1 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer; also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
• National-level figures only may be presented unrounded, without small number suppression
Evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total workload of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and Mental Health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
• Suppress all numbers between 0 and 5
All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract ie: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
• Round all other numbers to the nearest 5
NHS Digital data will be handled in line with the HES analysis guide and the disclosure control rules.
• Percentages can be calculated based on unrounded values, but need to be rounded to the nearest integer in any outputs
There will be no data linkage undertaken with NHS Digital data provided under this agreement that is not already noted in the agreement.
• In addition for Learning Disability data in Mental Health (MHSDS, MHLDDS, MHMDS), the England-level data also must apply the suppression of all numbers between 0 and 5, and rounding of other numbers to the nearest 5.
NHS Digital data will be handled in line with the HES analysis guide and the disclosure control rules as applicable.
Expected output
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and
submitted for publication
published
in
International Journal of
Cancer
Epidemiology
in
October
July
2019. This follows a June 2016 publication where descriptive statistics have been
[86 words unchanged]
Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific mental health outcomes by Spring
2020.
2021.
Analyses describing the variation in clinical pathways including delays and time to diagnosis will be submitted for publication by June
2020
2021
to Journal of Clinical Oncology (or similar).
Additional work describing the rates of hospital activity and differences between ages
[8 words unchanged]
group (e.g. south Asian vs non-south Asian) will be completed by April
2020
2021
and submitted for publication to the British Journal of Cancer by July
2020.
2021.
Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for
[12 words unchanged]
involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August
2020.
2021.
This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be
[79 words unchanged]
Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August
2020).
2021).
Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer
[34 words unchanged]
to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (June
2020).
2021).
Results will be reported to academic audiences in peer reviewed journal articles
[6 words unchanged]
plan to disseminate findings directly to other beneficiaries including cancer patients, their
families, clinicians
families
and
educational specialists, and the Department for Education.
clinicians.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is
[5 words unchanged]
of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st August
2020. the study expect
2025. Subject
to
secure
securing
ongoing
funding beyond August 2020,
funding,
the data would be retained until December
2020
2025
to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Results of the primary care admission analysis will be published in the British Journal of Cancer by December
2020.
2021.
Expected measurable benefits
[1 paragraph unchanged]
1. Improved patient care. This work will identify to clinicians, commissioners and
[180 words unchanged]
consultant team. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December 2020.
The DfE and DWP work will provide information on the most vulnerable patients who are greatly affected by a cancer diagnosis in terms of their educational and social outcomes in terms of identifying them and using this knowledge to develop appropriate flagging systems within oncology services and suitable interventions to support their re-integration into society. These activities are likely to be completed by December 2023.
2. Evaluation of treatments to identify best practice and guidance. Work to
[43 words unchanged]
minimize these complications. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by June
2020.
2021.
3. Evaluation of service provision. Highlight any inequalities in access to specialist
[81 words unchanged]
served equally well. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December
2020. Equivalent work will also be conducted in relation to educational and social welfare outcomes, due to be completed by December 2023.
2021.
4. Financial planning. Information on hospital activity workload and NHS costs associated
[97 words unchanged]
NHS patient demand. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December
2020.
2021.
[8 paragraphs unchanged]
Benefits reported
JOURNAL ARTICLE PUBLICATIONs
iii. Yielded Benefits :
Newton HL, Friend AJ, Feltbower R, Hayden CJ, Picton HM, Glaser AW. Survival from cancer in young people: An overview of late effects focusing on reproductive health. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019; 98:573-582.
The YSRCCYP database has yielded several benefits, for example:
Smith L, Glaser AW, Peckham D, Greenwood DC, Feltbower RG. Respiratory morbidity in young people surviving cancer: population-based study of hospital admissions, treatment-related risk factors and subsequent mortality. Int J Cancer 2019; 145: 20-28.
• The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS specialist services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers in relation to childhood and young adult cancer survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them.
Friend AJ, Feltbower RG, Newton HL, Picton HM, Glaser AW. Late effects of childhood cancer. Lancet 2018; 391: 1772.
• The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary of the latest literature relating to late consequences of cancer treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy.
Friend, A.J., Feltbower, R.G., Hughes, E.J., Dye, K.P. and Glaser, A.W., Mental Health of Long Term Survivors of Childhood and Young Adult Cancer: A Systematic Review. International journal of cancer 2018; Feb 22. doi: 10.1002/ijc.31337.
• It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and their relationship to subsequent morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire. By age 40, cumulative incidence for an admission for any type of respiratory condition was almost 50%. Respiratory admission rates were almost 2 times higher in cancer survivors than in the general population. Treatment with chemotherapy with known lung toxicity increased the risk of admission for all respiratory conditions. Subsequent mortality was highest in those admitted for pneumonia compared to other respiratory conditions.
• It has allowed researchers to quantify the prevalence and spectrum of mental health problems found in adult survivors of childhood cancer, based on a systematic review of the current evidence. Problems ranged from depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and drug misuse. Factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems included treatment with high-dose anthracyclines, cranial irradiation, diagnoses of sarcoma or central nervous system tumours and ongoing physical ill health. The review recommended further work to identify childhood cancer patients who are at risk of developing late mental health morbidity.
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds holds identifiable Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and Mental Health data for a specific cohort which will be used, alongside data collected in the Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme. Under this Agreement the University of Leeds requests continuing access to HES and Mental Health data including the most recent data. Continued access to data held by NHS Digital allows researchers at the University of Leeds to continue to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research.
The justification for processing the data by University of Leeds is Article 6 (1) (E) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for the performance of a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller). The justification for the processing of the special category data (health data) by University of Leeds is Article 9 (2)(J) of the GDPR: (processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
The YSRCCYP is a regional population-based register containing detailed demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people. Spanning an area of 15,000 square kilometres, the Yorkshire and Humber SHA comprises a range of urban and rural communities with a significant ethnic minority population resident in parts of West Yorkshire.
The purpose of the YSRCCYP is to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research. The use of HES and Mental Health data contributes to this by providing additional information that can be linked with and analysed with data from the YSRCCYP data. The HES and Mental Health data are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
The YSRCCYP is a population-based register, inclusion is based on their residential address at diagnosis. Any individuals being treated in Yorkshire hospitals but resident outside the region will be excluded. Those on the register who move away from the Region remain included in case of any follow-up treatment or care. All patient information is retained beyond the age of 30 years for the purpose of tracking their long-term cancer outcomes.
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP, either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. This flow of information falls under GDPR article’s 6(1)(e) and 9(2)(j), and is covered by the studies section 251 support. Patients are made aware of this flow of data through leaflets distributed at the main Principal Treatment Centres, posters on hospital wards, webinars with the local charity funders (Candlelighters Trust) and the YSRCCYP register website and fair processing statement.
The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner. Data on 11,000 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and Mental Health data is required for only 10,500 as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under approval of this request will consist of approximately 10,500 patients.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by and at the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded by the Candlelighters Trust and Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust.
The current research focus is on hospital workload around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations.
The YSRCCYP research team’s research plans include the following objectives:
1) To describe the total burden of hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
3) To calculate the risks and costs to the NHS of adverse health events requiring hospital admission for survivors of cancer in this age group so that clinicians can provide appropriate follow-up care.
To address aim 1 above the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and Mental Health data to investigate long term risks of respiratory and mental health illness in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for YSRCCYP members in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 60 at admission (the oldest person currently registered in the database). This separate extract is covered under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK).
The YSRCCYP research team require some data items classed as sensitive. These are the Referrer code, which indicates the manner in which the patient was referred to hospital by ascertaining the code of the referring organisation. This allows the YSRCCYP research team to identify particular patient pathways which are associated with an optimal time to diagnosis, a key indicator known to influence survival. Additionally the Consultant code data field is required because it enables the YSRCYYP research team to work out whether patients receive care at specialist cancer centres as opposed to general district hospitals, in order to address important health services research questions such as: ‘Does specialist care improve patient outcomes for children and young people including length of hospital stay and reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality?’. There are currently no databases which link consultant codes to specialist cancer centres for childhood and young adult cancer, so this process needs to be done manually using cohort linked NHS Digital data and the YSRCCYP database.
The University of Leeds has considered the moral and ethical issues and believe these are outweighed by benefits. Feedback from presentations researchers have made to families and cancer survivors have shown that they are hugely grateful for the Register and research carried out on their behalf. Those attending these presentations felt that they had been sufficiently informed about the research, and are comfortable and supportive of the need to collect and process this data without informed consent.
All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract ie: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
Expected output
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and published in International Journal of Cancer in July 2019. This follows a June 2016 publication where descriptive statistics have been produced showing the respiratory conditions diagnosed within the linked cohort. The background admission rates in the general population are required over the same time period to enable further statistical analysis to be carried out. Outcomes of the work will also be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Further work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific mental health outcomes by Spring 2021. Analyses describing the variation in clinical pathways including delays and time to diagnosis will be submitted for publication by June 2021 to Journal of Clinical Oncology (or similar).
Additional work describing the rates of hospital activity and differences between ages at diagnosis (e.g. 0-14 vs 15-29) and ethnic group (e.g. south Asian vs non-south Asian) will be completed by April 2021 and submitted for publication to the British Journal of Cancer by July 2021. Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2021. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-institute-cardiovascular-metabolic-medicine/doc/yorkshire-specialist-register-cancer-children-young-people/), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
All outputs will be aggregated with small number suppression in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
As the funder, the Candlelighters Trust may request information for use in its own information dissemination and publicity materials. For example, they may ask for the number of new cases diagnosed per year in Yorkshire and projected incidence rates. The University of Leeds would only share information that is available as a result of the processing activities described above – i.e. the YSRCCYP would not undertake further data processing in order to derive information requested by the Candlelighters Trust and any information shared would be put in the public domain. For clarity, the University of Leeds is not obliged to provide information on request to the Candlelighters Trust and would only share data that are aggregated with small numbers suppressed in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2021). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (June 2021).
Results will be reported to academic audiences in peer reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. The study also plan to disseminate findings directly to other beneficiaries including cancer patients, their families and clinicians.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st August 2025. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2025 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Results of the primary care admission analysis will be published in the British Journal of Cancer by December 2021.
Benefits reported
iii. Yielded Benefits :
The YSRCCYP database has yielded several benefits, for example:
• The data collected as part of the YSRCCYP has allowed researchers to better understand the burden on NHS specialist services of late cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity as well as second cancers in relation to childhood and young adult cancer survivors and quantifies the long-term risk of such morbidity for survivors and healthcare professionals looking after them.
• The YSRCCYP database has facilitated the production of an up-to-date summary of the latest literature relating to late consequences of cancer treatment on reproductive health, describing the impact on both fertility and pregnancy.
• It has allowed researchers to quantify respiratory morbidities, treatment-related risks and their relationship to subsequent morbidity and mortality among long-term survivors of childhood and young adult cancer in Yorkshire. By age 40, cumulative incidence for an admission for any type of respiratory condition was almost 50%. Respiratory admission rates were almost 2 times higher in cancer survivors than in the general population. Treatment with chemotherapy with known lung toxicity increased the risk of admission for all respiratory conditions. Subsequent mortality was highest in those admitted for pneumonia compared to other respiratory conditions.
• It has allowed researchers to quantify the prevalence and spectrum of mental health problems found in adult survivors of childhood cancer, based on a systematic review of the current evidence. Problems ranged from depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and drug misuse. Factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems included treatment with high-dose anthracyclines, cranial irradiation, diagnoses of sarcoma or central nervous system tumours and ongoing physical ill health. The review recommended further work to identify childhood cancer patients who are at risk of developing late mental health morbidity.
DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v3.9 1 February 2020 to 28 February 2021
- Title
- Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 7
- Files released
- 0
Datasets: Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set; Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E); Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC); Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP); Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS); Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS); Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS)
What changed from DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v2.8
Text removed is struck through; text added is underlined. Unchanged paragraphs are summarised rather than repeated.
| Field | Was | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | 2020-02-01 | |
| End date | 2021-02-28 | |
| Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set: legal basis | Health and Social Care Act 2012 – s261(7); National Health Service Act 2006 - s251 - 'Control of patient information'. |
Datasets: + Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS)
Objective for processing
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention and processing of data already held by the University of Leeds for an interim period.
The University of Leeds holds Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and Mental Health data for a specific cohort which will be used, alongside data collected in the Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme.
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study. No new data will be released under this version of the agreement, and this agreement allows the applicant to hold and process data that has already been disseminated.
The YSRCCYP is a regional population-based register containing detailed demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people. Spanning an area of 15,000 square kilometres, the Yorkshire and Humber SHA comprises a range of urban and rural communities with a significant ethnic minority population resident in parts of West Yorkshire.
The University of Leeds requires HES and mental health data for a specific cohort to be used, alongside data collected in the Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme.
For background, the YSRCCYP is a regional population based register containing detailed demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people. Spanning an area of 15,000 square kilometres the Yorkshire and Humber SHA comprises a range of urban and rural communities with a significant ethnic minority population resident in parts of West Yorkshire.
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner. Data on 9,500 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and mental health data was required for only 8,500 as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under approval of this request will consist of approximately 7,000 patients.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by and at the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded by the Candlelighters Trust.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
A current research focus is on hospital burden around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population.
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner. Data on 9,500 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and Mental Health data is required for only 8,500 as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under approval of this request will consist of approximately 7,000 patients.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by and at the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded by the Candlelighters Trust and Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust.
A current research focus is on hospital workload around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population.
[2 paragraphs unchanged]
1) To describe the total
burden
workload
of hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify
[8 words unchanged]
of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
The YSRCCYP research team require some data items classed as sensitive. These
[140 words unchanged]
be done manually using cohort linked NHS Digital data and the YSRCCYP
database.
database
Processing activities
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention and processing of data already held by the University of Leeds for an interim period.
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study. No new data will be released under this version of the agreement, and this agreement allows the applicant to hold and process data that has already been disseminated.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
The University of Leeds stores the data on an encrypted secure area
[29 words unchanged]
University of Leeds and located within the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
No NHS Digital data will be transferred outside of the University of Leeds or shared with any third party individual or organisation (apart from where stored at 2 disaster recovery sites at the University of York and Iron Mountain, where data will be stored only for the purpose of disaster recovery and not processed for any other purpose).
The cohort linked data (HES and mental health) and the pseudo-anonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK), are stored in separate files and are distinct from the YSRCCYP data itself. The pseudo-anonymised HES extract will not be linked to the cohort data supplied by NHS Digital or in the YSRCCYP database. Different pseudonymised HES IDs will ensure this is not possible.
No NHS Digital data will be transferred outside of the University of Leeds or shared with any third party individual or organisation apart from a) where stored at 2 disaster recovery sites at the University of York and Iron Mountain, where data will be stored only for the purpose of disaster recovery and not processed for any other purpose.
Data will not be processed outside of the University of Leeds or shared. All pseudonmyised data will be processed at the University of Leeds.
The cohort linked data (HES and mental health) and the pseudo-anonymised HES extract, provided under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: DARS-NIC-155843-0MQMK), are stored in separate files and are distinct from the YSRCCYP data itself. The pseudo-anonymised HES extract will not be linked to the cohort data supplied by NHS Digital or in the YSRCCYP database. Different pseudonymised HES IDs will ensure this is not possible.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
The data are initially checked for any errors or inconsistencies. This involves
[48 words unchanged]
admissions existed which were less than 2 days apart with the same
HES_ID,
HES ID,
and no admission entries occurred after the date of death if deceased (the latter which is obtained from YSRCCYP database).
Length of hospital stay is calculated from the dates of admission and
[14 words unchanged]
level of specialist care, and distance from residential address to hospital (hence
reasoning
why the University needs OA code and grid reference).
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
Researchers who are not substantively employed by the University of Leeds may apply for access to data from the YSRCCYP but data supplied by NHS Digital will not be shared with any third parties.
NHS Digital data will only be accessed by substantive employees of University of Leeds or any one working under honorary contract. Data will only be used for the purposes described in this agreement.
Data will only be used for the purposes described in this statement. The NHS Digital data will not be linked to any other data apart from YSRCCYP data.
The YSRCCYP research team requires data from the full period from 1996/97 to 2018/19 (latest available) for several reasons. Firstly in order to address aim 1 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer; also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
The YSRCCYP research team requires data from the full period from 1996/97 to 2016/17 (latest available) for several reasons. Firstly in order to address aim 1 investigating changes in levels of hospitalisation over time and within specific cancer types, age groups and sociodemographic groups. Secondly to maximise statistical power for analyses given the rarity of childhood and young adult cancer; also to assess changes in access over time to specialist cancer care services, as NHS policy regarding the recommendations for treatment of children and young people with cancer has changed with the opening of Principal Treatment Centres in hospitals across in England throughout this time frame.
Evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total workload of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and Mental Health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
Evaluating clinical care pathways and time to diagnosis also require data of all admissions prior to cancer diagnosis. The late health effects for childhood and young adult cancer survivors may occur any time after treatment ends and the risk of late effects increases as the cohort ages. In order to fully evaluate the total burden of adverse health events in these survivors’, data are required for as long a time period as possible. This may also include any hospital admissions prior to the patient’s cancer diagnosis to identify any underlying health conditions. The YSRCCYP research team is also notified about any subsequent malignant neoplasms from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service prospectively following the original cancer diagnosis and therefore need to retain all historical HES and mental health data in order to scrutinise any such individual’s history of hospital admissions and understand potential reasons for those who experience multiple tumour diagnoses.
All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract ie: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
NHS Digital data will be handled in line with the HES analysis guide and the disclosure control rules.
There will be no data linkage undertaken with NHS Digital data provided under this agreement that is not already noted in the agreement.
Expected output
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention and processing of data already held by the University of Leeds for an interim period.
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and submitted for publication in Cancer Epidemiology in October 2019. This follows a June 2016 publication where descriptive statistics have been produced showing the respiratory conditions diagnosed within the linked cohort. The background admission rates in the general population are required over the same time period to enable further statistical analysis to be carried out. Outcomes of the work will also be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Further work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific mental health outcomes by Spring 2020. Analyses describing the variation in clinical pathways including delays and time to diagnosis will be submitted for publication by June 2020 to Journal of Clinical Oncology (or similar).
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study. No new data will be released under this version of the agreement, and this agreement allows the applicant to hold and process data that has already been disseminated.
Additional work describing the rates of hospital activity and differences between ages at diagnosis (e.g. 0-14 vs 15-29) and ethnic group (e.g. south Asian vs non-south Asian) will be completed by April 2020 and submitted for publication to the British Journal of Cancer by July 2020. Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2020. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses will be completed by the YSRCCYP research team and submitted for publication in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar) by June 2018. The June 2018 publication follows a June 2016 publication where descriptive statistics have been produced showing the respiratory conditions diagnosed within the linked cohort. The background admission rates in the general population are required over the same time period to enable further statistical analysis to be carried out. Outcomes of the work will also be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Further work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific mental health outcomes by December 2018. Analyses describing the variation in clinical pathways including delays and time to diagnosis will be submitted for publication by June 2018 to Journal of Clinical Oncology (or similar).
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-institute-cardiovascular-metabolic-medicine/doc/yorkshire-specialist-register-cancer-children-young-people/), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
Additional work describing the rates of hospital activity and differences between ages at diagnosis (e.g. 0-14 vs 15-29) and ethnic group (e.g. south Asian vs non-south Asian) will be completed by October 2017 and submitted for publication to the British Journal of Cancer by December 2017. Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in December 2018. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/545/yorkshire_specialist_cancer_register), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
As the funder, the Candlelighters Trust may request information for use in
[86 words unchanged]
obliged to provide information on request to the Candlelighters Trust and would
not
only
share
any
data that are
not
aggregated with small numbers suppressed in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be
[78 words unchanged]
and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network
(December 2018).
(August 2020).
Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer
[34 words unchanged]
to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (June
2018).
2020).
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Though work is currently planned until December 2019, the current funding expires on 31st August 2017. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2019 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Results will be reported to academic audiences in peer reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. The study also plan to disseminate findings directly to other beneficiaries including cancer patients, their families, clinicians and educational specialists, and the Department for Education.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st August 2020. the study expect to secure ongoing funding beyond August 2020, the data would be retained until December 2020 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Results of the primary care admission analysis will be published in the British Journal of Cancer by December 2020.
Expected measurable benefits
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention and processing of data already held by the University of Leeds for an interim period.
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study. No new data will be released under this version of the agreement, and this agreement allows the applicant to hold and process data that has already been disseminated.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
1. Improved patient care. This work will identify to clinicians, commissioners and
[27 words unchanged]
problems early and intervene so that patient wellbeing is maximized and NHS
burden
workload
minimized. For example, those individuals identified from the risk stratification model as
[27 words unchanged]
risks of depression following cancer treatment will help to describe the NHS
burden
workload
of mental health problems in this vulnerable population. This knowledge will be
[75 words unchanged]
hospital consultant team. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December
2018.
2020. The DfE and DWP work will provide information on the most vulnerable patients who are greatly affected by a cancer diagnosis in terms of their educational and social outcomes in terms of identifying them and using this knowledge to develop appropriate flagging systems within oncology services and suitable interventions to support their re-integration into society. These activities are likely to be completed by December 2023.
2. Evaluation of treatments to identify best practice and guidance. Work to
[43 words unchanged]
minimize these complications. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by June
2019.
2020.
3. Evaluation of service provision. Highlight any inequalities in access to specialist
[81 words unchanged]
served equally well. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December
2018.
2020. Equivalent work will also be conducted in relation to educational and social welfare outcomes, due to be completed by December 2023.
4. Financial planning. Information on hospital activity
burden
workload
and NHS costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment of children and
[89 words unchanged]
NHS patient demand. Anticipated dates to complete these activities are by December
2019.
2020.
[8 paragraphs unchanged]
Unchanged: Benefits reported.
Objective for processing
The University of Leeds holds Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and Mental Health data for a specific cohort which will be used, alongside data collected in the Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme.
The YSRCCYP is a regional population-based register containing detailed demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people. Spanning an area of 15,000 square kilometres, the Yorkshire and Humber SHA comprises a range of urban and rural communities with a significant ethnic minority population resident in parts of West Yorkshire.
The purpose of the YSRCCYP is to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research. The use of HES and Mental Health data contributes to this by providing additional information that can be linked with and analysed with data from the YSRCCYP data. The HES and Mental Health data are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner. Data on 9,500 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and Mental Health data is required for only 8,500 as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under approval of this request will consist of approximately 7,000 patients.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by and at the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded by the Candlelighters Trust and Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust.
A current research focus is on hospital workload around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations.
The YSRCCYP research team’s research plans include the following objectives:
1) To describe the total workload of hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
3) To calculate the risks and costs to the NHS of adverse health events requiring hospital admission for survivors of cancer in this age group so that clinicians can provide appropriate follow-up care.
To address aim 1 above the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and Mental Health data to investigate long term risks of respiratory and mental health illness in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudo-anonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for patients in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 60 at admission (the oldest person currently registered). This separate extract is covered under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK).
The YSRCCYP research team require some data items classed as sensitive. These are the Referrer code, which indicates the manner in which the patient was referred to hospital by ascertaining the code of the referring organisation. This allows the YSRCCYP research team to identify particular patient pathways which are associated with an optimal time to diagnosis, a key indicator known to influence survival. Additionally the Consultant code data field is required because it enables the YSRCYYP research team to work out whether patients receive care at specialist cancer centres as opposed to general district hospitals, in order to address important health services research questions such as: ‘Does specialist care improve patient outcomes for children and young people including length of hospital stay and reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality?’. There are currently no databases which link consultant codes to specialist cancer centres for childhood and young adult cancer, so this process needs to be done manually using cohort linked NHS Digital data and the YSRCCYP database
Expected output
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses was completed by the YSRCCYP research team and submitted for publication in Cancer Epidemiology in October 2019. This follows a June 2016 publication where descriptive statistics have been produced showing the respiratory conditions diagnosed within the linked cohort. The background admission rates in the general population are required over the same time period to enable further statistical analysis to be carried out. Outcomes of the work will also be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Further work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific mental health outcomes by Spring 2020. Analyses describing the variation in clinical pathways including delays and time to diagnosis will be submitted for publication by June 2020 to Journal of Clinical Oncology (or similar).
Additional work describing the rates of hospital activity and differences between ages at diagnosis (e.g. 0-14 vs 15-29) and ethnic group (e.g. south Asian vs non-south Asian) will be completed by April 2020 and submitted for publication to the British Journal of Cancer by July 2020. Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in August 2020. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-institute-cardiovascular-metabolic-medicine/doc/yorkshire-specialist-register-cancer-children-young-people/), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
All outputs will be aggregated with small number suppression in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
As the funder, the Candlelighters Trust may request information for use in its own information dissemination and publicity materials. For example, they may ask for the number of new cases diagnosed per year in Yorkshire and projected incidence rates. The University of Leeds would only share information that is available as a result of the processing activities described above – i.e. the YSRCCYP would not undertake further data processing in order to derive information requested by the Candlelighters Trust and any information shared would be put in the public domain. For clarity, the University of Leeds is not obliged to provide information on request to the Candlelighters Trust and would only share data that are aggregated with small numbers suppressed in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (August 2020). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (June 2020).
Results will be reported to academic audiences in peer reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. The study also plan to disseminate findings directly to other beneficiaries including cancer patients, their families, clinicians and educational specialists, and the Department for Education.
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Current funding expires on 31st August 2020. the study expect to secure ongoing funding beyond August 2020, the data would be retained until December 2020 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Results of the primary care admission analysis will be published in the British Journal of Cancer by December 2020.
Benefits reported
JOURNAL ARTICLE PUBLICATIONs
Newton HL, Friend AJ, Feltbower R, Hayden CJ, Picton HM, Glaser AW. Survival from cancer in young people: An overview of late effects focusing on reproductive health. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019; 98:573-582.
Smith L, Glaser AW, Peckham D, Greenwood DC, Feltbower RG. Respiratory morbidity in young people surviving cancer: population-based study of hospital admissions, treatment-related risk factors and subsequent mortality. Int J Cancer 2019; 145: 20-28.
Friend AJ, Feltbower RG, Newton HL, Picton HM, Glaser AW. Late effects of childhood cancer. Lancet 2018; 391: 1772.
Friend, A.J., Feltbower, R.G., Hughes, E.J., Dye, K.P. and Glaser, A.W., Mental Health of Long Term Survivors of Childhood and Young Adult Cancer: A Systematic Review. International journal of cancer 2018; Feb 22. doi: 10.1002/ijc.31337.
DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v2.8 1 September 2019 to 31 January 2020
- Title
- Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 6
- Files released
- 0
Datasets: Bridge file: Hospital Episode Statistics to Mental Health Minimum Data Set; Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency (HES A and E); Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC); Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients (HES OP); Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS); Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS)
Objective for processing
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention and processing of data already held by the University of Leeds for an interim period.
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study. No new data will be released under this version of the agreement, and this agreement allows the applicant to hold and process data that has already been disseminated.
The University of Leeds requires HES and mental health data for a specific cohort to be used, alongside data collected in the Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People (YSRCCYP), to continue its epidemiology and health services research programme.
For background, the YSRCCYP is a regional population based register containing detailed demographic and clinical information on children and young adults aged 0-29 years diagnosed with cancer since 1974. The YSRCCYP covers the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) which has a total population of 5 million people. Spanning an area of 15,000 square kilometres the Yorkshire and Humber SHA comprises a range of urban and rural communities with a significant ethnic minority population resident in parts of West Yorkshire.
The YSRCCYP research team, within the University of Leeds, is notified of patients eligible for inclusion in the YSRCCYP either directly by the patient’s treatment centre or via electronic reports from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. The YSRCCYP research team then obtains information on patients by manual data abstractions from hospital records. Detailed data on the patient and diagnosis, including treatment information for each of these cases is obtained by a sole data collection officer via the medical records at relevant hospitals in the area, and annual follow up of all cases takes place to ascertain data on any relapses or deaths through letters sent either to the patient’s treating consultant or general practitioner. Data on 9,500 patients have been collected since 1974, however linked HES and mental health data was required for only 8,500 as the cohort shared with NHS Digital excludes participants who passed away before 1996. The cohort submission under approval of this request will consist of approximately 7,000 patients.
The YSRCCYP was originally set up in collaboration with local clinicians to provide research information. Since 1994, the YSRCCYP database and research programme has been managed by and at the University of Leeds’ Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The University of Leeds is the Data Controller for the YSRCCYP with sole responsibility for determining the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are processed. The work is currently funded by the Candlelighters Trust.
The purpose of the YSRCCYP is to facilitate population-based epidemiological and health services research. The use of HES and mental health data contributes to this by providing additional information that can be linked with and analysed with data from the YSRCCYP data. The HES and mental health data are not added into the YSRCCYP research database. The two datasets are stored separately but contain common unique study IDs enabling data to be linked at record level. Where required for specific research, relevant data are extracted from the respective databases, linked and analysed by the YSRCCYP research team.
A current research focus is on hospital burden around the time of diagnosis and treatment and monitoring long term risks of hospitalisation associated with cancer treatment. One specific processing activity will relate to describing the risks and prevalence of mental health illness within the cancer cohort compared to the general population.
This type of epidemiological and health services research has the potential to benefit future patients by identifying risk factors which can be used by health professionals to identify those at greatest risk of mental health illness so that interventions and appropriate support can be implemented. It may also reveal important environmental risk factors, examine changes in incidence rates which may help to identify possible causes and understand survival patterns according to ethnic group and socio-economic status in order to ensure that there are no inequalities in outcomes or access to specialist cancer care for certain sub-populations.
The YSRCCYP research team’s research plans include the following objectives:
1) To describe the total burden of hospitalisation among the Yorkshire cancer population aged 0-29 years, to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors which influence the likelihood of hospitalisation and to investigate how hospitalisation rates have changed since 1997.
2) To understand patient care pathways through the NHS before, during and after cancer diagnosis. This includes assessment of time to diagnosis for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 years to identify where improvements can be made to minimise delays in diagnosis leading to better prognosis and less stress and anxiety on patients and their families.
3) To calculate the risks and costs to the NHS of adverse health events requiring hospital admission for survivors of cancer in this age group so that clinicians can provide appropriate follow-up care.
To address aim 1 above the YSRCCYP research team will utilise HES and mental health data to investigate long term risks of respiratory and mental health illness in the cohort and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors which may affect these risks. The YSRCCYP research team also wish to determine the relative excess risk of these conditions within the cancer cohort compared to the general background population and, in order to make this comparison, requires a separate pseudo-anonymised extract of HES data containing all episodes for patients in the Yorkshire and Humber SHA area only under the age of 60 at admission (the oldest person currently registered). This separate extract is covered under a separate Data Sharing Agreement (reference: NIC-155843-0MQMK).
The YSRCCYP research team require some data items classed as sensitive. These are the Referrer code, which indicates the manner in which the patient was referred to hospital by ascertaining the code of the referring organisation. This allows the YSRCCYP research team to identify particular patient pathways which are associated with an optimal time to diagnosis, a key indicator known to influence survival. Additionally the Consultant code data field is required because it enables the YSRCYYP research team to work out whether patients receive care at specialist cancer centres as opposed to general district hospitals, in order to address important health services research questions such as: ‘Does specialist care improve patient outcomes for children and young people including length of hospital stay and reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality?’. There are currently no databases which link consultant codes to specialist cancer centres for childhood and young adult cancer, so this process needs to be done manually using cohort linked NHS Digital data and the YSRCCYP database.
Expected output
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention and processing of data already held by the University of Leeds for an interim period.
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study. No new data will be released under this version of the agreement, and this agreement allows the applicant to hold and process data that has already been disseminated.
Work describing risks of health effects of treatment in relation to respiratory illnesses will be completed by the YSRCCYP research team and submitted for publication in the British Journal of Cancer (or similar) by June 2018. The June 2018 publication follows a June 2016 publication where descriptive statistics have been produced showing the respiratory conditions diagnosed within the linked cohort. The background admission rates in the general population are required over the same time period to enable further statistical analysis to be carried out. Outcomes of the work will also be disseminated in open-access journals (e.g. BMC Cancer) and presented at conferences including the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service Cancer Outcomes annual meeting, Teenage Cancer Trust and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology annual conferences. Further work will be submitted to the European Journal of Cancer (or similar) in relation to specific mental health outcomes by December 2018. Analyses describing the variation in clinical pathways including delays and time to diagnosis will be submitted for publication by June 2018 to Journal of Clinical Oncology (or similar).
Additional work describing the rates of hospital activity and differences between ages at diagnosis (e.g. 0-14 vs 15-29) and ethnic group (e.g. south Asian vs non-south Asian) will be completed by October 2017 and submitted for publication to the British Journal of Cancer by December 2017. Details of risk stratification models and the methodology to derive these for individual patients will be disseminated by the research team to every clinician involved in the care of children and young people (CYP) in December 2018. This will be supported by the Yorkshire & Humber CYP cancer network that holds details of all practicing NHS CYP cancer teams and clinicians in the region.
Summary reports of the work and research undertaken will be compiled and also made available on the Yorkshire Register University of Leeds website (http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/545/yorkshire_specialist_cancer_register), according to the timelines listed earlier in the document.
All outputs will be aggregated with small number suppression in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
As the funder, the Candlelighters Trust may request information for use in its own information dissemination and publicity materials. For example, they may ask for the number of new cases diagnosed per year in Yorkshire and projected incidence rates. The University of Leeds would only share information that is available as a result of the processing activities described above – i.e. the YSRCCYP would not undertake further data processing in order to derive information requested by the Candlelighters Trust and any information shared would be put in the public domain. For clarity, the University of Leeds is not obliged to provide information on request to the Candlelighters Trust and would not share any data that are not aggregated with small numbers suppressed in line with the HES Analysis Guide.
The linked NHS Digital data alongside the background hospitalisation rates will be used to derive key information which will be provided by the YSRCCYP research team to clinicians involved in the long-term care of young people identifying each individual’s risk stratification group (defined as being at ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ risk of future complications or health effects, based upon their previous hospital activity patterns, treatment mortality, dose, cancer type and stage). The risk stratification model will be devised by the YSRCCYP research team and disseminated to clinicians in the Yorkshire and Humber region via the Y&H Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Network (December 2018). Only those clinicians involved in the direct care of individuals with cancer will be provided with details of the risk stratification model. Health care commissioners will be provided with aggregated cancer intelligence data on the number of survivors currently being seen at each NHS Trust according to risk stratification group, so future services can be planned effectively (June 2018).
Data will be held for as long as the research project is funded to undertake this piece of epidemiological and applied health research. Though work is currently planned until December 2019, the current funding expires on 31st August 2017. Subject to securing ongoing funding, the data would be retained until December 2019 to allow sufficient time for completion of analyses, submission and final publication of papers.
Benefits reported
JOURNAL ARTICLE PUBLICATIONs
Newton HL, Friend AJ, Feltbower R, Hayden CJ, Picton HM, Glaser AW. Survival from cancer in young people: An overview of late effects focusing on reproductive health. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019; 98:573-582.
Smith L, Glaser AW, Peckham D, Greenwood DC, Feltbower RG. Respiratory morbidity in young people surviving cancer: population-based study of hospital admissions, treatment-related risk factors and subsequent mortality. Int J Cancer 2019; 145: 20-28.
Friend AJ, Feltbower RG, Newton HL, Picton HM, Glaser AW. Late effects of childhood cancer. Lancet 2018; 391: 1772.
Friend, A.J., Feltbower, R.G., Hughes, E.J., Dye, K.P. and Glaser, A.W., Mental Health of Long Term Survivors of Childhood and Young Adult Cancer: A Systematic Review. International journal of cancer 2018; Feb 22. doi: 10.1002/ijc.31337.
Register history
When this agreement appeared in, or was edited in, each monthly edition of the register. Built by comparing every edition this site holds, the earliest of which is July 2021.
-
July 2021 —
already listed in the earliest edition this site holds, so it may be older. 3 versions: DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v2.8, DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v3.9, DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v4.6
-
October 2021
Amended DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v4.6
- Datasets: + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Accident and Emergency; + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Admitted Patient Care; + HES-ID to MPS-ID HES Outpatients
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December 2022
1 version added: DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v5.14
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April 2024
1 version added: DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v6.2
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June 2025
1 version added: DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W-v7.2
"Amended in place" means NHS England changed the record without issuing a new version number. The register publishes no changelog for those edits; this site infers them by comparing editions. An edit is attributed to the edition it first appears in, not to the date it was made.
Cite this page
NHS England (2026) Data Uses Register, September 2026 edition, agreement DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W, “Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People”. Read via NHS Data Access Explorer (unofficial), https://healthdatauses.uk/agreements/dars-nic-11809-h1y3w/ (accessed [date]).
This address stays the same, but the page is rebuilt with each monthly edition, so the citation names the edition it shows. Every edition's data is kept in the facts store.
Source: datausesregister_september2026.xlsx, September 2026 edition of the NHS England Data Uses Register. Search that workbook for DARS-NIC-11809-H1Y3W to see the original rows.