PARTY leaders have been warned that a "chronic shortfall" in clinical radiologists and oncologist consultants threatens to undermine the Scottish government's £100m strategy to tackle cancer.

The new initiative aims to improve prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare for cancer patients in Scotland.

An action plan covering the next five to ten years has been drawn up, including funding for new equipment.

The Herald:

The Royal College of Radiologists has revealed that their workforce censuses show a five per cent reduction in the numbers of clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists in Scotland that are skilled in detecting and treating cancer between 2012 and 2014.

Their analysis is at odds with government figures referred to in the strategy document which says that the numbers of consultant clinical radiologists has increased by 12.3 per cent over two years.

RCR also warn that 11 per cent of consultant radiologists are expected to retire within the next three years while cancer-related workloads are increasingly annually at a rate of 11 to 13 per cent.

The number of consultant radiologists per 100,000 population was at 5.5 in 2015, but RCR say to save more lives from cancer, Scotland should move to European mainland levels of at least eight.

The Herald:

RCR say that the shortfall needs to be addressed "urgently, and that £10 million investment is required to increase the number of clinical radiologists in training. They say it is the only way to address current gaps, upcoming retirements and provide for the extra cancer testing that the strategy envisages.

Dr Paddy Niblock, chairman of the RCR’s standing Scottish committee said: “We fully support the aspirations and scope of the strategy and we welcome the major investment that is planned.

"But to maximise the impact of that funding we need to invest immediately in the clinical radiologist workforce.

"Without this, the strategy’s ambitions for earlier detection and more effective and equitable treatment of patients will fail.

“The next Scottish Government has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver this Strategy for the benefit of cancer patients in Scotland. That is why we have written today to all main party leaders in the Scottish parliamentary elections with our proposals." impro

The Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action plan lists more than 50 steps being taken, including £50m towards radiotherapy equipment and support for staff recruitment and training.

It will also see £9m spent over five years to improve support for cancer patients and their families through link workers and charity groups, and £7.5m for improvements in surgical treatments.

Diagnosis is also being targeted, with £5m to reduce inequalities in screening uptake and £10m to support quick access to diagnostics for people who suspect they have cancer.

The Herald:

RCR president Dr Giles Maskell, said: "We are ready to work with the next Scottish Government to explore our proposals further and offer our professional guidance and advice for the benefit of cancer patients in Scotland.”

RCR say their workforce census showed that the number of consultant radiologists fell from 317 in 2012 to 309 this year.

The plan unveiled by Shona Robison contains more than 50 actions to tackle the disease by improving prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and after care.

It includes £50 million for radiotherapy equipment and to support recruitment and training, an additional £10 million to support swift access to diagnostics for people with suspected cancer, and £5 million to support waiting times performance.

The Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action strategy was launched during an event in Edinburgh with Cancer Research UK.

The Herald:

Also covered is £9 million over five years to ensure better support for people with cancer and their families, £5 million to target reducing inequalities in screening uptake, £7.5 million to support improvements in surgical treatments, and £3.5 million to drive improvements across the palliative care sector.