Cancer doctor shortage 'puts level of care at risk'
Doctors are facing聽a聽sharp increase in new cancer cases because of disruption to services caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Wednesday 17 June 2020 09:53, UK
A shortage of cancer doctors could impact efforts to deal with an anticipated surge in new cases in the autumn, research suggests.
New figures from The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) reveal how the supply of specialist cancer doctors is continuing to fall behind NHS demand.
Patients could have poorer outcomes and less chance of having their cancer cured due to a shortfall of at least 200, leading oncologists have warned.
Meanwhile, doctors face a sharp increase in new cases because of disruption to services caused by the coronavirus pandemic and restricted capacity due to infection control measures.
Findings from a 2019 (pre-coronavirus) census, released on Wednesday, found:
- Clinical shortages have escalated rapidly over the past three years
- NHS has just five more full-time clinical oncologists now than it did in 2018 - but needs at least 200 more
- UK-trained consultants will only fill half of current vacancies, meanwhile exhausted consultants are retiring earlier and hospitals have been struggling to recruit from abroad
- Clinical oncology workforce is understaffed by 19% (207 consultants) - without investment the shortfall will hit at least 26% by 2024
It comes as the number of new cancer patients needing non-surgical treatment has risen by an estimated 165,000 each year.
Non-surgical cancer care has continued throughout the pandemic, however patient turnaround has slowed down due to staff sickness and reduced capacity due to social distancing and cleaning requirements.
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And while the UK's shortage of clinical oncology consultants is not a new issue, the new data reveals the situation has rapidly worsened over the past three years.
The RCR estimates that 48 new UK-qualified consultants could join the workforce this year, if they are all able to complete their training despite coronavirus delays - but they will not be enough to fill the UK's 93 vacant posts.
According to the findings, England, which has the biggest population of patients in the UK and the most cancer centres, saw no increase in full-time doctors between 2018 and 2019.
Wales and Northern Ireland have above average consultant shortfalls and the forecast for Wales is dire, the RCR said, with its clinical oncologist shortage expected to reach 33% by 2024.
Scotland's workforce is comparatively much better off, with a 14% shortfall of clinical oncologists.
Dr Tom Roques, the RCR's medical director of professional practice for clinical oncology and lead author of the workforce report, said: "NHS cancer teams were working flat out before coronavirus hit and have continued to provide services during the pandemic.
"We just do not have the capacity to provide the same level of care as before when we are faced with a new peak of cancer referrals and given the added pressures of coronavirus.
"Delayed access to diagnosis, compounded with clinical oncologist shortages, will inevitably mean patients waiting longer to see a cancer expert, with worse outcomes and less chance of curing their cancer."
Dr Roques added that the UK needs "at least another 200" more clinical oncologists to keep up with demand.
"We desperately need central and devolved governments to act to boost clinical oncologist numbers and improve cancer staffing across the UK," he added.