Adapted from BMJ 22 June 24
The risk of death from delays in cancer treatment is rising in the UK. Treatment has been delayed twice as often in 2023 compared to 2022. Workforce shortages are the main reason.
The Royal College of Radiologists say that almost half of cancer treatment centres are experiencing weekly delays. Figures for delay in radiotherapy treatments were 22% in 2022 compared to 43% in 2023.
Cancer Research UK says that 382,000 patients in England missed target treatment rates of 85% within 62 days of an urgent referral since 2015.
97% of Clinical Directors said that workforce shortages were the problem. A delay of a month in treatment raises mortality rate by 10%.
The NHS is short of 1,962 Consultant Radiologists meaning that the workforce is only two thirds of what it need to be. There is a shortage of 185 Clinical Oncologists. There are 15 out of a hundred posts unfilled. It is predicted that the shortages will be 40% and 21% by 2028 if nothing is done to address the problem.
Demand for chemotherapy increased by 6-8%, but the consultant workforce only increased 3.5%. Some regions of the country are much more affected than others.
Cancer Research UK said that health boards had finally caught up with the COVID backlog. Shortages of staff and equipment remain and in April 24 only two thirds of cancer patients began treatment within 62 days of referral.
The NHS is treating a record number of cancer patients. 30% more people with cancer are being treated compared to 2015 figures.
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