Cancer Research December 2017
- UK-wide data collected on the non-surgical oncology workforce as a whole and gaps in the data.
- Recommendations:
- Health Education England should use our ‘best practice treatment model’ to project required workforce numbers based on patient demand, not on affordability.
- Cancer Alliances should report staff shortages to health workforce bodies, such as Health Education England, based on staff needed to meet patient demand not vacancy figures.
- Health Education England must address current and future staff shortages by:
- Increasing training places for clinical and medical oncology;
- Review training pipelines for clinical technology with IPEM and Department of Health; and
- Reviewing how the removal of student bursaries for nurses and therapeutic radiographers is affecting workforce projections in 2018/19.
- NHS England should share the 3 key skills mix opportunities identified in this research with Cancer Alliances to spread innovation and encourage best practice.
- The Department of Health and equivalent bodies in the devolved nations should ensure that contracts for health professionals covered in this research include protected time for Supporting Professional Activities such as service improvement, training, and clinical research.
