Women are being diagnosed with breast cancer late and are experiencing delays in treatment, according to leading radiographers, due to a shortage of specialist staff who can perform breast cancer scans.
Specialist scans used to detect breast cancer are performed by radiologists, also called mammographers, who specialize in imaging the breast.
According to the Society of Radiographers, the recent vacancy rate for screening mammographers is 17.5%, and for symptomatic mammographers, who scan women who have a breast lump or a family history of breast cancer, nearly one-fifth of the workforce (19.8%).
All women in England aged between 50 and 71 are invited for a breast cancer screening every three years.
Dean Rogers, director of industrial strategy at the Society of Radiographers, said the shortage was leading to delays in cancer diagnosis for women and there was an urgent need to recruit more mammographers.
“Our members work incredibly hard to provide a comprehensive service, despite staff shortages. But a department with 20% or more vacancies cannot possibly do the work of a full complement of mammographers. And unfortunately, this can mean that some women’s cancers are not detected as quickly as they should be. Inevitably, any delay in detection and diagnosis means that cases become more complex and difficult to treat.”
He added that the NHS urgently needs to recruit more mammographers to meet rising demand, and increase salaries to encourage more radiographers to join the profession, rather than ‘driving them away’.
Rachael Franklin, interim chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “These shocking mammography staff shortages in the NHS are contributing to delays in people with breast cancer being diagnosed and receiving life-changing treatments that could give them the best chance of survival.
Breast Cancer Now’s No Time to Waste campaign calls for urgent investment in breast cancer screening to ensure women’s access to screening, now and in the future.
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“The new UK government must prioritise tackling the workforce crisis to ensure its sustainability; recruiting, training, retaining and supporting staff to ensure cancer patients receive the care they deserve.
“Anyone looking for support or information about breast cancer can contact our expert nurses by calling our free helpline on 0808 800 6000.”
An NHS spokesperson said: “We recognise the need to increase the number of radiologists working in the NHS. That’s why our NHS Long Term Workforce Plan includes a roadmap to increase the number of training places for diagnostic radiologists by almost two-fifths by 2031-32 – including through both apprenticeships and traditional undergraduate courses.”