Senior doctors warn that NHS cancer services are facing a 'ticking timebomb' due to chronic staff shortages of radiologists and oncologists across the UK. This leads to long delays in diagnosis and treatment, increasing the risk of cancer spreading and reducing survival chances, with 9 out of 10 cancer centre chiefs reporting treatment delays last year and concerns for patient safety.
People with cancer face ‘ticking timebomb’ due to NHS staff shortages
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Senior doctors warn that NHS cancer services are facing a 'ticking timebomb' due to chronic staff shortages of radiologists and oncologists across the UK. This leads to long delays in diagnosis and treatment, increasing the risk of cancer spreading and reducing survival chances, with 9 out of 10 cancer centre chiefs reporting treatment delays last year and concerns for patient safety.
Trending- 1 2024: All radiology bosses surveyed reported their units could not scan all patients within NHS maximum waiting times due to staff shortages.
- 2 2024: Nine out of 10 cancer centre chiefs reported patients were delayed starting treatment.
- 3 Thursday: Royal College of Radiologists published two reports detailing their findings.
- 4 Later this year: The Department of Health and Social Care plans to publish a refreshed workforce plan.
- Cancer progression while patients wait for diagnosis/treatment
- Reduced chances of successful treatment
- Increased risk of death for cancer patients
- Burnt-out staff and doctors quitting at younger ages
- Strain on the NHS health care system
What: NHS cancer services facing a 'ticking timebomb' due to staff shortages; long delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment; increased risk of cancer progression and death; 'chronic' workforce gaps in radiologists and oncologists; doctors quitting due to strain; government's plan to address delays.
When: Last year (2024, all radiology bosses surveyed reported not meeting waiting times, 9 out of 10 cancer centre chiefs reported treatment delays); Thursday (RCR reports published); later this year (refreshed workforce plan to be published).
Where: Across the UK (NHS-wide).
Why: Chronic workforce gaps in radiology and oncology; rising demand for cancer tests and treatment; strain of overstretched services leading to doctors quitting.
How: Surveys conducted by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR); mutual aid agreements between hospitals; government's investment in surgical hubs, AI scanners, and radiotherapy machines; planned refreshed workforce plan.