All renal units in Scotland submit full demographic and survival data, and limited other information reflecting quality standards, to the Scottish Renal Registry. More extensive data is collected by the UK Renal Registry, but it covers only a minority of renal units within the UK. Pooled Scottish data can be seen with the UK Renal Registry data on the UKRR website. Edinburgh data is not separated in this analysis, but it is separated in the data released (on paper only, and not yet publicly) to Scottish renal units. Data for Edinburgh have been comparable to Scottish data in most respects. Where it is not, local audits are undertaken to understand possible explanations for any divergence.
Example: in 1999 anaemia levels were shown to be significantly worse in Edinburgh than in the rest of Scotland. An audit confirmed that restriction in the availability of Erythropoietin therapy seemed likely to be largely responsible for this. Protocols for the optimal use of erythropoietin were introduced and representations to the Health Board led to an increase in Erythropoietin prescribing. The 'haemoglobin gap' had largely disappeared by early 2001. Haemoglobin level is one of the parameters continuously monitored by the Scottish Renal Registry.
A detailed analysis of outcomes undertaken in 2001 is described in detail here.
(To follow)
From EdREN, the website of the Renal Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. This page created May 2001, last modified December 2001.