£100m cancer fight

Shortage of staff threatens to put entire NHS strategy for treating disease at risk

NHS staff shortages are putting the Scottish Government’s £100million cancer strategy at risk.

A review has raised concerns about whether or not the workforce can meet rising demand on services, particularly cancer diagnosis.

Around 32,000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with the disease every year, and this is expected to reach 40,000 by 2027.

The strategy, due to be fully implemented by 2021, is aimed at getting more cancers diagnosed and treated quickly. The Scottish parliament’s cross-party group on cancer examined the Scottish Government’s five-year plan at its half-way point.

It found most of its objectives were on track but raised concerns about the ability of the workforce to meet rising demand.

Gregor McNie of Cancer Research UK, which compiled the report for the group, said: ‘A great deal of progress has been made in the implementation of the strategy and we’re pleased to see the Scottish Government is on course to meet its £100million funding commitment.

‘However, significant staffing shortages remain a serious concern and the Scottish Government must now plan for and deliver a fully resourced Scottish cancer workforce both now and in the future.’

The report said: ‘Progress on early diagnosis was highlighted as an area of particular concern. Many members raised a number of issues, particularly in the NHS workforce, which are causing delays in cancer diagnosis.

‘These create a great deal of anxiety for patients due to the possible impact on cancer survival, especially in rapidly progressing cancers.’

Waiting times for Scots with suspected cancer are at their worst levels ever recorded. Almost one in five urgently referred patients are waiting longer than 62 days for their first treatment.

Almost 12 per cent of consultant radiology posts are unfilled – a total

‘Patients are being let down’

of 43 posts across Scotland – making it the speciality with the highest number of vacancies.

The cross-party group’s co-conveners, Miles Briggs and Anas Sarwar, said urgent action was needed.

Labour MSP Mr Sarwar said: ‘The laudable aims of the Cancer Strategy simply can’t be delivered unless the staffing crisis in our NHS is addressed. Years of workforce mismanagement are taking their toll and it is cancer patients who are being let down as a result.’

Tory MSP Mr Briggs said: ‘The SNP Government has been warned for years about the dire consequences of poor workforce planning. If ministers continue to ignore these warnings, cancer patients across Scotland will pay the price.’ A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘As the cross-party group’s report recognises, 87 per cent of the actions in the strategy have either been completed or are on track. Under this Government, Scotland’s NHS has seen seven consecutive years of growth in workforce numbers, to historically high levels.’