Cancer patients face life-threatening delays due to lack of staff, say UK radiologists

An oncologist examines a patient’s MRI scan results. Staff shortages meant costly medical devices had to be turned off, radiologists said. Photograph: Dmytro Zinkevych/Alamy

Cancer patients face life-threatening hospital delays and the prospect of more gruelling treatment as a result of NHS staff shortages, senior radiologists have warned.

A poll of all 60 directors of the UK’s cancer centres by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) found staff shortages at 97% of the centres were leading to longer waiting times and delays in treatment.