Royal College of Radiologists warns of long delays to have surgery or treatment, raising chances of disease spreading
People with cancer face a “ticking timebomb” of delays in getting diagnosed and treated because the NHS is too short-staffed to provide prompt care, senior doctors have warned.
An NHS-wide shortage of radiologists and oncologists means patients are enduring long waits to have surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy and have a consultant review their care.
“Our waiting times for breast radiotherapy are now the worst I have ever known in 20 years.”
“Current wait for head and neck cancers [is] six weeks, meaning possible progression before radiotherapy.”
“A multiple week wait for palliative treatment has sometimes led to deterioration to the point is no longer possible.”
