Staff shortages causing ‘dangerous’ delays to cancer care, doctors warn

Staff shortages are causing “extremely dangerous” delays to diagnosis and cancer care, doctors have said.

Data from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) shows the shortage of radiologists and cancer doctors is causing delays to diagnosis and treatment for patients across Scotland.

The report is based on responses from 100% of cancer centre and radiology department leaders in Scotland and across the whole UK.

It found six in ten radiology and cancer leaders say staff shortages are causing patients’ conditions to worsen and severe shortages of radiologists and cancer doctors are driving delays to diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other serious conditions.

Dr Stephen Harden, president of the royal college, said the findings should be causing “alarm bells” for governments across the UK.

“For the first time, our census shows that patients’ conditions are deteriorating because of workforce shortages,” he said.

“Delays to diagnosis and cancer treatment are extremely dangerous, particularly in deprived and rural communities where shortages are worst.

“Despite our members’ extraordinary efforts, we simply don’t have enough clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists to meet rising demand.

“Recruitment freezes and growing reliance on outsourcing are making the situation worse, not better.

“Alarm bells should be ringing for governments across the UK. Without urgent action to train, recruit and retain more doctors, more patients will suffer.”

The data shows patients at every Scottish cancer centre have had their treatment delayed because of staff shortages.

All cancer leaders have seen delays to patients starting drug-based treatments including chemotherapy, while eight in ten have seen delays to radiotherapy.

Scottish Government data shows that in 2025, almost 100,000 people waited over six weeks to have a scan or diagnostic test.

In 2025, only 71% of patients started cancer treatment within 62 days of a referral, against a target of 95%.

NHS Scotland has 28% fewer radiologists and 18% fewer clinical oncologists than it needs to meet current demand, according to the RCR data.

It warned that if shortages continue at the current rate, they will rise to 37% too few radiologists and 58% too few clinical oncologists by 2030 if no action is taken to boost the workforce.

The college is calling on the Scottish Government to create more permanent jobs for radiologists and clinical oncologists, supported by a sustained increase in the number of training places for clinical radiology and clinical oncology.

The report also shows workforce shortages are worse in the north and east of Scotland and the RCR is calling for NHS Scotland to introduce measures to attract doctors to under-resourced areas.

Health secretary Angela Constance said: “Whilst we are treating more patients with cancer on time within both standards compared to ten years ago, I recognise oncology services are continuing to face pressure.

“We will be developing a national workforce plan with the NHS and, in the meantime, we have seen an increase in consultant oncologists and consultant radiologists in recent years.

“We are also investing up to £10.5m per year by 2027 in chemotherapy and oncology services to ensure we build a sustainable workforce.

“The number of diagnostic tests being carried out has increased and we will continue to make progress to ensure patients get the right care, in the right place as quickly as possible.”