Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to increase the number of oncologists in the NHS.

The Cancer Workforce Plan (published in 2017), identified a range of measures to increase the numbers of clinical radiologists, histopathologists, oncologists and radiographers by 2021. This included improving working practices, attracting qualified people back to the National Health Service and international recruitment. Between March 2016 and March 2019, there has been a net increase of 2,515 full time equivalent staff across the seven priority professions identified in the Cancer Workforce Plan, including an increase of 167 clinical and medical oncologists.

The People Plan will build upon the progress already made and take targeted action to ensure the supply of NHS staff who play a vital role in delivering cancer care, including oncologists.