Cancer Care: Delays Mounting Across the UK

Practice managers play a pivotal role in navigating current challenges on cancer care delays, in overseeing the operational aspects of patient referrals and care coordination within healthcare settings. As we face long waits for cancer care across the UK, with significant workforce shortages in radiology and oncology, practice managers are crucial in ensuring timely and effective treatments for patients

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on BBC News

Workforce shortages exacerbate delays

The RCR’s latest report, based on responses from senior managers at 60 specialist cancer centres across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, reveals alarming trends. It indicates that nearly half of these centres experience delays in chemotherapy and cancer drug treatments on a regular basis. Moreover, the frequency of delays in radiotherapy has also surged, affecting 43% of centres surveyed, up from 22% the previous year.

Impact of doctor shortages

Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the RCR, underscored the critical shortage of doctors exacerbating patient backlogs. She expressed concern that the existing workforce inadequacy poses significant risks to patient safety and predicts that the situation will worsen with increasing demand and doctor attrition.

Persistent target misses

Health systems across the UK have consistently fallen short of cancer treatment targets even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent NHS data from March reveals that only 69% of patients in England started their first cancer treatment within 62 days, well below the 85% target. Since December 2015, over 382,000 cancer patients in England have waited longer than prescribed times for treatment, underscoring systemic challenges.

Calls for long-term strategy

Cancer Research UK calls for a comprehensive, fully-funded long-term strategy to reform and enhance cancer services in England. Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research UK, stresses the necessity of cross-party commitment to bolster cancer research and improve service delivery across the UK.

Macmillan Cancer Support echoes concerns over prolonged waiting times, emphasising the urgent need for improvements in diagnostic and treatment capacities to save lives and alleviate patient suffering.

In conclusion, addressing the cancer care crisis demands urgent political commitment and strategic investment to build a resilient and responsive healthcare system capable of meeting the growing demands of cancer care across the UK. Practice managers are integral in implementing strategies to mitigate cancer care delays, ensuring efficient patient flow and optimal resource allocation within their healthcare facilities. Proactive management being key to maintaining quality care standards amidst ongoing workforce challenges in oncology and radiology across the UK.