Cancer patients missing vital care as nurses struggle with workloads

CANCER patients are missing out on vital care as specialist nurses struggle with huge workloads, according to a new report.

Macmillan Cancer Support said specialist cancer nurses were having to use their annual leave to catch up on training in order to be on top of new developments and treatments.

The charity’s study found the cancer workforce is stretched, with around one in 10 specialist nurse posts vacant in some regions.

General nurses are also struggling to find time to train as cancer specialists, it said.

One in five (22%) of 260 cancomplex cer nurse specialists surveyed by the charity said they have taken annual leave to undertake training, while 39% described their workload as unmanageable.

Some 44% said their workload was having a negative impact on patient care.

More than three-quarters (76%) said having more time for training would help them improve care for people living with cancer.

Alison Keen, head of cancer nursing at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and chairwoman of the National Forum of Lead Cancer Nurses, said: “The world of cancer care is changing at a rapid pace, with an increase in the complexity of treatments, and an ever-growing demand for care. Nurses are pivotal to the delivery of cancer treatment and care.

“Nationally there is a lack of consistent and equitable funding

percentage of 260 cancer nurse specialists surveyed who said their

workload was unmanageable

for nurse education, which means generalist nurses have little opportunity to have the resource or time to receive much-needed education and development.

“The knock-on effect is the lack of opportunity to specialise in services, such as cancer care.

“Even if some receive funding, nursing vacancies and pressure on acute services result in the inability to be released for training or development.”

Macmillan Cancer Support’s specialist adviser for workforce, Nikki Cannon, said: “The NHS nursing workforce is at breaking point and, while much more needs to be done to grow the workforce, our report shows how urgently existing staff also need to be supported and retained.”

Macmillan Cancer Support’s executive director of policy and impact, Dr Fran Woodard, said: “More people are being diagnosed with cancer and more people are living longer with more conditions, and the role of the specialist adult cancer nurse in supporting them to navigate complex care and support pathways should not be underestimated.”

The report comes after a new study found the UK lags behind other high-income countries when it comes to cancer survival.

The UK was at the bottom of the league table for five out of seven cancers, including bowel, lung and pancreatic.

The same study found the oneyear survival rate in Northern Ireland is lower compared to the rest of the UK.

One-year survival rates for stomach, rectal, pancreatic, lung and ovarian cancers are all below the national average.