Hiring freeze at dozens of NHS cancer and diagnostic units despite rising referrals
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Royal College of Radiologists calls move ‘shortsighted’ and says it puts Labour’s waiting times plan at risk. Dozens of NHS hospitals have banned their cancer or diagnostic units from hiring new staff, despite GPs referring growing numbers of people who they fear may have the disease.
Doctors warned that widespread recruitment freezes imposed on both types of units over the last year risked undermining Keir Starmer’s drive, outlined this week, to cut waiting times for NHS care. Research by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) found that 42 NHS trusts or health boards across the UK told their cancer centre or diagnostic unit not to take on extra staff during 2024. Financial problems in the NHS appear to explain what it called “shortsighted” freezes.
Both types of services are already struggling to cope with the ever-rising demand for diagnostic tests and cancer care being created by Britain’s increasingly aged and sick population, which is forcing patients to wait for X-rays and scans before they can start treatment.
“Imposing hiring freezes in cancer and diagnostic departments is an extraordinarily shortsighted decision,” said Dr Katharine Halliday, the college’s president. “These departments are already grappling with understaffing and overwhelming workloads.
“Freezing hiring will only exacerbate delays in patient diagnosis and treatment, while further eroding the morale of hard-working NHS staff.”. Such bans “undermine critical efforts to reduce delays for patients and improve early cancer diagnosis”, she added.
