According to the latest BBC report, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has said that long waits for cancer care are becoming routine across the UK, as nearly half of all specialist cancer centres experience delays most weeks.
Impending Crisis
The RCR has warned of an “impending crisis” in the cancer workforce as there is a 30% shortfall in radiologists and 15% shortfall in clinical oncologists.
Radiologists are specialists in diagnosing conditions using medical imaging, whilst Oncologists are doctors who assess, treat, and manage patients with cancers.
The RCR completed a survey of senior managers at 60 specialist cancer centres in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in November 2023 and found that the number of centres experiencing delays had almost doubled in a year.
In addition, the survey found:
- 47% of the cancer centres said patients needing chemotherapy and other cancer drugs were facing delays “most weeks or every week”
- 43% of the cancer centres reported delays to radiotherapy treatment.
- Almost all clinical directors surveyed said workforce shortages were causing backlogs.
RCR President, Dr Katharine Halliday, said:
“We simply do not have enough doctors to manage the increasing number of patients safely, and this problem will only worsen as demand continues and more doctors leave the NHS.”
Worst year on record for cancer waits
The BBC shows that NHS data in 2023 was the worst year on record for cancer waits.
The latest data, from March, showed the proportion of patients in England waiting less than 62 days to receive their first cancer treatment was 69%. The target is 85%.
Cancer Research UK has also reported that their new analysis found that 382,000 cancer patients had not been treated within the prescribed time in England since December 2015, which was the last time that the target was actually met.
Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said:
“All political parties should commit to a long-term, fully-funded strategy to back cancer research across the UK, and improve and reform cancer services in England. Without this, cancer patients will not receive the level of care that they deserve.”
Cancer charity, Macmillan, said that the NHS data shows that “far too many people” are waiting too long for potentially life-saving scans and treatment.
Comment
It is clear from the recent findings that there is a major issue with cancer care in the UK.
Early diagnosis of cancer is critical. When diagnosed at an early stage, when it is smaller and has not spread, the chances of survival are significantly improved. Spotting cancer early and confirming a diagnosis saves lives.
It is therefore shocking to see just how poor the situation is with cancer diagnosis and care. It cannot be acceptable that it is becoming the norm for delays and long waits for scans and treatment and that patients are being put at risk in this way.
It is absolutely correct that the Government must make cancer care a priority going forward and have a strategy in place to support and facilitate the improvement of services urgently.
How can Nelsons help?
Danielle Young is a Legal Director in our Medical Negligence team, which is ranked in Tier One by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500, and Commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2024.
If you have any questions about the subjects discussed in this article, please contact Danielle or another team member in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online enquiry form.
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