Thousands of cancer patients could be left without vital medical care and support in Scotland amid staff shortages, a leading cancer charity has warned.

Head of Macmillan Cancer Support services in Scotland, Janice Preston, says Scotland is facing a “perfect storm” as the numbers of people with cancer soars, many experienced nurses retire, and an already over-stretched workforce “just can’t fill all the gaps.”

In a report released today, Macmillan says hundreds of new cancer nurse specialist roles will be needed by the end of 2030 to meet growing demand.

With almost half of the current cancer nurse specialist workforce set to retire over the next ten years, recruitment is a key concern for the charity.

Research conducted by Macmillan estimates that new cancer diagnoses will reach over 46,000 a year by the end of the decade - 23% more than in 2018.

Ms Preston called for the Scottish government to “commit to creating a fully-funded and clearly mapped out plan to recruit the hundreds of additional nurses Scotland needs, as well as to replace those who are retiring”, to ensure all cancer patients receive the care they need.

The charity say cancer nurse specialists are already stretched too thin in Scotland, and are being faced with an impossible task, leaving many patients without the care they need.

Polling for the charity found one in four of those diagnosed with cancer in Scotland in the past five years said they lacked specialist cancer nursing support during their diagnosis or treatment, with one in ten experiencing at least one serious medical implication as a result.

Kimberley Forsyth, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in October last year, says without her cancer nurse specialist her experience would have been lonely and frightening.

The 39-year-old from Aberdeen said: “I don’t know how I’d have coped without my nurse. I couldn’t take anyone in with me to my appointments because of the pandemic, so she was my support from the very beginning.

“Every time I saw her in the clinic, her and her team were incredibly busy, but she always made time for me. Her knowledge, experience and kindness made all the difference in my care.

“I would have found this experience very difficult to navigate without her, and that’s as someone who works in health and social care and has a big family who were supporting me.

“I can’t imagine how lonely and frightening going through cancer would be for someone who didn’t have a nurse, especially if they didn’t have family around them or know how to go online to find information.”

 

Read more: ‘Many worrying gaps’ in NHS recovery plan; Seven-day results promised in cancer check shake-up; Extra NHS beds and staff funding

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