The 2022 Clinical Oncology Workforce Census report

The Royal College of Radiologists has published the 2022 Clinical Oncology Workforce Census report on 8th June.

Key findings from this year’s clinical oncology workforce census include:

• Patient care has been notably impacted by shortages in the clinical oncology workforce. In almost all UK cancer centres (97%), patients’ treatment was delayed because of staff shortages. In 1 in 2 cancer centres, delays were happening in most months or every month.
• The UK has a 15% shortfall of clinical oncologists – 175 additional doctors are needed to deliver safe and effective patient care. By 2027, it is projected that the shortfall will rise to 25%.
• Across the UK, there is a 7% vacancy rate of clinical oncologists. 54% of these vacancies have been open for over a year.
• Inevitably, health systems are having to rely on costly alternatives. The proportion of locum staff in the clinical oncology workforce has risen from 4% to 8% over the past two years.
• There are concerning inequalities in access to cancer specialists. In London, there are 10.2 oncologists (medical and clinical) per 100,000 older people, compared to just 2.1 in North and West Wales.

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