The data management area of the WBRC employs two full time and two part time staff. Their role in the department involves managing, monitoring and manipulating all the information that is obtained from patients that attend the department and ensuring the quality of that data. They are responsible for maintaining a database that covers all patients since the department opened in late 1992. Their aim is to maintain an accurate database for all patients treated within the centre and ensure we have a high-quality follow-up of all these patients.

One way of monitoring the department’s performance is by performing an annual audit, which provides an enormous amount of information about patient outcomes including side-effects. Ongoing quality assessment of all of the department’s data must therefore be provided.

In addition to the main internal database, external and multidisciplinary clinical databases have also been established, which provide updated information regarding patients with specific disease types.

Clinical trials test promising new treatments to see if they are better than standard treatments. The Data Management area assists in the development of new clinical trials as well as coordinating and maintaining ongoing trials and liaising with the external clinical trial centres. They are also responsible for assisting with the organisation of the wide range of research projects the department undertakes.

Information can be extracted from the databases and statistical analysis provided for research projects, meetings, reports, publications and journal articles.