Exceptions Overview

Under the Denominator line (in blue) is a group of Exceptions:

Exceptions are patients who should not be counted towards achievement percentages, neither the Indicator or Denominator include exceptions. However, if a patient fulfils the Indicator criteria they are always counted, even if an exception is recorded.

For example, a patient with CHD recently recorded with a BP recorded in the last 12 months, is counted towards CHD015 even though an exception (registered in last 3 months) is present.

Exceptions apply only if indicator data is not present. One indicator which differs from this rule is Cytology, patients with no cervix are always excepted, even if a vault smear test is recorded.

Exceptions in England

In England, Exceptions display as Exclusions and Personalised Care Adjustments (PCA):

• EXCLUSION - Exclusions display with a grey highlight. An exclusion removes patients who do not qualify for the denominator, in this case, the patient's cancer diagnosis was more than 24 months ago. Another example, patients are excluded from SMOK004 if they are not recorded as current smokers.

• PCA - A PCA removes qualifying patients from the denominator due to a patient or GP decision, in this case, the patient did not respond to two invitations in the last 12 months.

  • The last Personalised Care Adjustment is not reported however it details the total count of PCAs.

Exceptions in Wales and Northern Ireland

In Wales and Northern Ireland, Exceptions display as follows:

• Grey background - Exceptions with a grey background display patients that do not qualify for the denominator, in this example, the patient's cancer care review was recorded more than 15 months ago.

• No background - Exceptions with no background display patients that qualify but have been removed due to a patient or GP decision, for example, the patient has declined care.

  • The last exception in grey text is not reported, however it details the total count of exceptions where the patient qualifies but has been removed from the denominator due to a patient or GP decision.