Cancer doctors shortage ‘putting patient welfare at risk’
New report says falling number of specialists is leading to longer waiting times for treatment
A shortage of specialists at the UK’s major cancer centres is causing longer patient waiting times and forcing existing staff to work more overtime, experts are warning.
A newly published report from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) says the “dire” staffing levels are seeing more than half of vacant posts remaining empty for longer than a year, Sky News reports.
The NHS says it is combating the problem by opening up more training places for doctors to increase numbers, while also investing more resources into cancer centres.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But the RCR claims this was not enough to meet increased demand for care, particularly given the number of doctors who are retiring, says the BBC. More than half of all clinical oncologists quit before the age of 60 as the stress of the job takes its toll.
A census of 62 cancer centres revealed a doctor vacancy rate of more than 7.5%, an increase of 2.5% in five years. Meanwhile, demand for radiotherapy is rising by 2% every year, while demand for chemotherapy is increasing at double that rate.
Dr Tom Roques, lead author of the RCR report, applauded the UK’s recent cancer treatment advances but emphasised the need for urgent action to ensure there are enough doctors to carry them out.
“These doctors are vital to the rollout of these new therapies but we do not have enough of them and our workforce projections are increasingly bleak,” he said.
In 2018, there were 863 full-time equivalent clinical oncology consultants working across the UK.
This is up 46 on the previous year, but the RCR says the increase is not keeping up with demand, with 70 posts left unfilled.
The shortages have left working oncologists to pick up the slack by putting in an extra six hours of overtime each week, on average.
The crisis is also increasing patient waiting times, which are at a record high in England.
The Government has pledged an extra £20bn a year to NHS England’s budget by 2023, as well as increased funding to other parts of the UK.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The alarming rise of cancer in young people
Under the radar Cancer rates are rising, and the cause is not clear
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
US bans final type of asbestos
Speed Read Exposure to asbestos causes about 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Beyond belief': fears of asbestos return
Under the radar Attention is returning to the dangers of the carcinogenic substance
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Martha's Rule: patients given right to urgent second opinion
The Explainer Hospitals in England will launch new scheme that will allow access to a rapid treatment review
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The contaminated blood scandal
The Explainer Widely regarded as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, the public inquiry is due to publish its report in May
By The Week UK Published
-
What to say to someone who has cancer
The Explainer Saying something is better than nothing but there are some things to avoid too
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Can Britain's dental crisis be fixed?
The Explainer New proposals include more money for dentists working in under-served areas
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Anastrozole: the daily breast cancer pill tipped to save thousands of lives
The Explainer Existing treatment approved for preventative use under 'pioneering' NHS drug repurposing scheme
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published