Tackling the shortages: More cancer nurses more radiographers
8.25 While it can take six years to achieve increases in the number of cancer consultants, the numbers of other health professionals can be increased more quickly. And given appropriate training and supervision, staff can expand their roles.
8.26 By 2004 there will be an extra 20,000 nurses in the NHS. Cancer services need additional ward nurses, cancer site-specific nurse specialists, chemotherapy nurses and palliative care nurse specialists. These will require advanced training.
8.27 Local cancer service delivery plans will need to identify additional nursing requirements. Cancer network workforce strategies should reflect the additional training places needed to meet these demands. Cancer networks will need to work closely with workforce development confederations to ensure an adequate number of training places are available and that nurses are enabled to take up training opportunities.
8.28 The numbers of training places for radiographers is being substantially increased. In the each of the last two years there has been an increase of around 12% in the number of training places for diagnostic radiographers. In 2000/ 01 a 39% increase in training places for therapeutic radiographers is planned. If all the places are taken up this will mean an extra 200 therapeutic radiographers in training.
8.29 But the retirement rate means that projected staff numbers do not show the same increase.
| Projected staff numbers | 1999 | 2003/4 | 2005/6 | Increase 1996 to 2006 | % increase
1999 to 2006 |
|---|
| Diagnostic radiographers | 8,434 | 8,572 | 8,748 | 314 | 4% |
|---|
| Therapeutic radiographers | 1,365 | 1,484 | 1,579 | 214 | 16% |
|---|
| Medical physicists | 802 | 862 | 897 | 95 | 12% |
|---|
8.30 Too many therapy radiography students fail to complete their training. In some places up to 30% of students drop out of their courses. This is a waste of money and of time and potential. The Department of Health will work with training providers and commissioners to improve the quality of training, with better linkage to cancer centres, and to reduce attrition rates.
8.31 The College of Radiographers is working to raise the profile of radiography as a career among school leavers and those considering a change of career. The Department of Health is working closely with radiographers and the college in planning a Radiography Awareness Week and a new recruitment campaign for autumn 2000. The Department will also look to overcome obstacles to the international recruitment of radiographers.
