Cancer scans unread for six weeks amid doctor shortage
NHS cancer scans are being left unread for up to six weeks amid a pensions crisis, doctors have warned. It came as a leading hospital chief executive raised fears that his trust could lose the equivalent of 60 consultants, because of medics’ refusal to work overtime.
Treasury rules mean that high earners can end up paying tax rates of more than 90 per cent on earnings over £110,000 a year, which include the value of pensions. NHS chiefs have already warned that waiting lists are soaring amid a growing crisis.
Now consultants say that cancer scans showing the presence or spread of the disease are being left unread for weeks because of the growing shortage of doctors.
In a report on the matter by the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) one medic warns of “unacceptable” delays of five or six weeks for scans of some cancer patients to be read.
Another consultant said: “Scan report turnaround time has gone from one week to over a month.
“Unexpected and critical findings are going unreported for weeks. We are now just firefighting.”
A specialist at another hospital said cases of cancer had been missed as a result of the crisis. The HCSA’S findings are based on reports from 1,116 consultants across the UK.
It came as Dr David Rosser, chief executive of University Hospitals Birmingham, said he fears losing the workload of around 60 doctors within two years if changes are not made to the tax system.
Dr Rosser said the rules – which also cover senior managers – meant it had cost him £50,000 to come to work in his first year as chief executive.
He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme that he had incurred a pension-related tax bill of £180,000, in addition to income tax, following promotion to chief executive.
Dr Rosser said: “We are seeing the problem escalating.” He added that the rising tax bills meant “extra layers of pressure and unpleasantness on what is a very high-pressure job already”.
Ministers have promised to explore more flexible pensions rules.