Royal College of Radiologists says ‘critical lack of capacity’ reduces sufferer’s chances of survival
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Joaquim Cardoso MSc
Chief Researcher for the “Health Transformation Research”
Chief Editor for the “Health Transformation Portal”
Senior Advisor for the “ Health Transformation Advisory Consulting”
May 19, 2023
ONE PAGE SUMMARY
Adapted from “Staff shortages force UK doctors to pick which cancer patients to treat promptly”, published in the Financial Times, on May 21, 2023, by Sarah Neville.
A critical shortage of staff in oncology departments in the UK is leading to
- delays in cancer treatment and
- negatively impacting patients’ chances of survival,
according to a group of expert clinicians represented by the Royal College of Radiologists and other professional bodies.
In a letter to the UK health secretary, they expressed serious concerns about the lack of capacity within oncology departments, forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about which patients to treat promptly.
Treatment delays increase the risk of death by approximately 10% for each month a patient is delayed.
Treatment delays increase the risk of death by approximately 10% for each month a patient is delayed.
The state of the National Health Service (NHS) and reducing waiting times for treatment are expected to be significant issues in the upcoming general election.
While the number of people waiting more than two months for cancer treatment has fallen year-on-year, almost 20,000 patients still exceed the target waiting time.
Referrals for suspected cancer have reached record levels in the past two years.
The signatories of the letter emphasized the increasing demand for cancer treatment and the availability of more treatments on the NHS.
However, a lack of investment and support for the oncology workforce has resulted in departments being unable to keep pace.
The professional bodies called for better workforce planning and urgent action to address the oncology workforce shortage.
The professional bodies called for better workforce planning and urgent action to address the oncology workforce shortage.
Originally published at https://www.ft.com.
