In a comment article published in The Lancet Oncology, the researchers have called for radical action to head off deepening financial pressures.
The UK cancer care system is facing a “critical breaking point,” a number of experts have warned.
In a comment article published in The Lancet Oncology, the researchers have called for radical action to head off deepening financial pressures.
The article calls for the appointment of an independent National Cancer Director and an office of support to take data-driven actions across the UK.
The government has responded, saying it is determined to drive down waiting times for cancer patients.
Mark Lawler, professor of digital health at Queen’s University Belfast and lead author, said: “The urgency is clear: in my mind, we are already in the midst of a cancer crisis, precipitated by 14 years of gross mismanagement of cancer by the previous administration and the collateral impact of Covid and national lockdowns on cancer services and cancer patients.
“Now, more than ever, we must learn from each other, acknowledge the scale of the challenge, and implement data-driven solutions and achieve efficiencies, some of which may be contentious…
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