Radiotherapy UK’s latest workforce survey* – sponsored by IPEM – spotlights a workforce desperate to offer an innovative and modern radiotherapy service for every patient that needs it.
Yet the immense effort of delivering 160,000 courses of treatment each year with just 6,400 professionals, and inadequate machines and tech is understandably taking its toll.
Lord Darzi spotlights radiotherapy waits
Hot on the heels of Lord Darzi’s report on the NHS, the survey findings suggest that unless the UK finds a way to stop radiotherapy staff leaving, a growing number of patients could fail to access life-saving radiotherapy. Just when we most need this life-saving treatment fulfilling its potential so it can cut waits and tackle rising cancer cases.
Lord Darzi’s report states that: “The 62-day target for referral to first [cancer] treatment has not been met since 2015 and in May 2024, performance was just 65.8 per cent. More than 30 per cent of patients are waiting longer than 31 days for radical radiotherapy.”
Our workforce survey points at why this might be. Chronic issues of capacity, patchy IT and innovation and low morale persist: 80% of respondents did not feel that they had the staff to meet current patient needs; 90% of respondents did not feel that they had the staff to meet future patient needs; and 42% indicated they did not feel that they had the machines to meet current patient needs.
“The service is very much run on goodwill. Can we work more hours? Can we work weekends? Can we work bank holidays? Can we work late in the evening? Staff need a better work/life balance, fairer pay for the stress that the job entails.”
2023 Survey Respondent
VIDEO: Professor Pat Price comments on Lord Darzi report
How you can help
- Join our Ambassadors’ Network and advocate for the radiotherapy workforce
- Email your MP and encourage them to attend our next event on October 23rd, 2024
- Share this survey through your networks and point people to the conclusion: we need investment and support for the radiotherapy workforce for better patient outcomes and survival rates: radiotherapy is wonderful and can help end long waits for treatment!
What next?
Our next workforce survey is currently in development. Please follow our socials or sign up for our Radiotherapy Daily weekday newsletter for updates.
*Survey submissions were collected in autumn 2023.
