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<p>According to the latest data, of those 10,328 cancer patients referred for first
or subsequent treatment for radiotherapy in March 2024, 89.7% were treated within
31 days. The proportion of patients waiting more than 31 days for radiotherapy treatment
in March 2024 was therefore 10.3%. This has decreased by 4.5% since January 2024.</p><p>We
are aware of regional disparities in wait times for cancer treatment through NHS England’s
data, and are considering the findings made by the Royal College of Radiologists.
Tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access of cancer diagnostics, including
regional disparities, is a key focus of the Government. NHS England has commissioned
six new cancer clinical audits in breast cancer, both primary and metastatic, as well
as ovarian, pancreatic, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and kidney cancer. These will provide
timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England
may vary, increase the consistency of access to treatments, and help stimulate improvements
in cancer treatments and outcomes for patients. The first outcomes of these audits
are expected in September 2024.</p><p>The Department is working closely with NHS England
to make sure we have the right workforce with the right skills up and down the country.
In 2023/24, NHS England invested an additional £50 million to increase the number
of cancer and diagnostic specialists.</p><p>The Government is also backing the NHS
Long Term Workforce Plan, with over £2.4 billion over the next five years to fund
additional education and training places. The plan sets out an aim to double the number
of medical school places in England to 15,000 places a year by 2031/32, and to work
towards this expansion by increasing places by a third, to 10,000 a year, by 2028/29.</p><p>We
are building our cancer workforce. In January 2024 there were over 35,200 full-time
equivalent (FTE) staff in the cancer workforce, an increase of over 13,300, or 60.7%
since January 2010. Regarding clinical oncology specifically, as of January 2024,
there are currently over 1,600 FTE doctors working in the speciality of clinical oncology
in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England. This is
over 30, or 2.2%, more than last year, over 300, or 27.7%, more than 2019, and over
600, 66.5%, more than in 2010. This includes over 900 FTE consultants. This is over
40, or 5.1%, more than last year, over 100, 22.0%, more than in 2019, and over 400,
80.2%, more than in 2010.</p>
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