Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cancer Workforce: Nurses

Tuesday 13 April 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jim Shannon asked the Government about plans to ensure an adequate number of nurses in the cancer workforce to meet NHS long-term plan targets.
  • Jim Shannon inquired about steps taken to facilitate Northern Ireland students educated on the UK mainland to transition and fill cancer workforce needs.
  • Alex Norris highlighted pre-pandemic understaffing in cancer services and questioned the capacity of the current workforce to handle both regular duties and a backlog.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS
Context

The issue concerns the adequacy of nursing staff in the NHS to meet cancer treatment targets outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan.

Question

What plans does the Government have to ensure an adequate number of nurses in the cancer workforce to deliver the targets for cancer set out in the NHS long-term plan?

Answer from Helen Whately

Cancer diagnosis and treatment is a priority for this Government. I am working with the Minister for prevention and public health—the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds (Jo Churchill)—to ensure that we have the necessary workforce to deliver improved cancer care. Overall, we are increasing the number of nurses in the NHS, with over 10,000 more nurses in the NHS this January than a year ago. We are training 250 more cancer nurses and 100 more specialist chemotherapy nurses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not specify how these new hires would address the specific needs of the cancer workforce or directly respond to meeting treatment targets outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan.

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

The issue pertains to the ease of transitioning UK mainland-trained nurses from Northern Ireland into the workforce in order to meet staffing needs both on the mainland and in Northern Ireland.

Question

I thank the Minister for that encouraging response, but will she outline what steps have been taken to ensure that Northern Ireland students educated in UK mainland nursing schemes can easily transition to fill the needs in our cancer wards both in the UK mainland and in Northern Ireland?

Answer from Helen Whately

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and if he will allow me, I will look into that and write to him.

Not addressed: The answer did not address any specific steps taken or commitments made regarding the transition of nurses from UK mainland programmes into Northern Ireland's workforce.

How: I Will Look Into It And Write To Him

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Q3 Alex Norris Labour (Co-op) Nottingham North and Kimberley
NHS
Context

The issue revolves around the need for extra financial support for under-staffed cancer wards to cope with post-pandemic backlogs.

Question

Prior to the pandemic, cancer services were understaffed and not meeting their targets. During the pandemic, our staff have made incredible efforts, but a cancer backlog has built up. The Government are now asking the same understaffed cohort to run their normal services and to deal with the backlog at the same time. This is unfair, will lead to burn out and will not work. Will the Government commit today to extra resources specifically targeted at cancer to give those staff a fighting chance?

Answer from Helen Whately

I thank the hon. Member for his question. The Government have already committed significant additional resources to support the NHS in recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that will include cancer services as well as other areas of treatment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not provide specific figures or a direct commitment to extra resources specifically targeted at cancer services. Instead, it referred to general support for recovery from the pandemic.

How: Already Committed Significant Additional Resources

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