Cancer survival in Scotland hit by staff shortages

Cancer Research UK has said that staff shortages are affecting cancer survival in Scotland, after it was revealed that patients in Britain were less likely to beat common cancers than those in other high-income countries.

The study, published in The Lancet Oncology, looked at 3.9 million cases in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Britain. It found that one-year and five-year survival rates had improved in the UK for seven types of cancer between 1995 and 2014 but that the country had still not caught up with its counterparts.

Cancer Research UK said that better workforce planning was vital if cancer care was to become world class.

Gordon Matheson, public affairs manager in Scotland for Cancer Research UK, said: “More people than ever before are surviving cancer thanks to research and targeted improvements in care. But, while we’re on the right track, the numbers show we can certainly do better.

“We will not see the necessary improvements in early diagnosis and equal access to treatment unless we have enough of the right staff across our health service in Scotland.

“Staff shortages need to be addressed because, quite simply, it will give people a better chance of surviving their cancer. If we are to achieve world-class cancer outcomes, the NHS in Scotland must get a grip on workforce planning at national level in order to meet current and future patient need.”