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Cancer hiring freezes double, risking patient care.
6 Feb
Summary
- Half of UK cancer centers froze hiring in 2025.
- Staffing freezes doubled from the previous year.
- Delays in cancer treatment risk a 10% increased death rate.
Half of the UK's specialist cancer treatment centers imposed recruitment freezes in 2025, a significant increase from the previous year. The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) reported that 60% of these centers banned hiring clinical oncologists, more than doubling the 2024 figure. Radiology departments also saw a rise in hiring bans, affecting over a third of units.
These staffing freezes are attributed to NHS financial pressures and a drive for rapid savings. RCR president Dr. Stephen Harden described the bans as short-sighted and potentially dangerous, warning that they worsen chronic doctor shortages and can lead to delayed diagnoses and limited treatment options. For cancer patients, each month's delay can increase the risk of death by approximately 10%.
The RCR's findings emerge as the government launches new plans to enhance cancer care in England, which aim to increase staff numbers and leverage technology. However, the RCR cautions that ongoing recruitment freezes directly conflict with these ambitions, particularly for smaller centers serving rural communities.
