Rural and coastal areas of England to get more cancer doctors

The government says it will place more cancer doctors in rural and coastal hospitals by offering specialist training posts, and a national cancer plan with targets and new technologies will be published on 4 February.

Hospitals in rural and coastal parts of England will be offered more cancer doctors, the government announced. Officials say the move is intended to tackle inequalities in access to diagnostic tests and treatment that vary by location. The initiative focuses on offering specialist training posts to early-career cancer doctors in those hospitals rather than immediately increasing consultant numbers. The full set of measures will be published in a national cancer plan on 4 February, World Cancer Day. Key points: - The health secretary said access to early diagnosis and cancer care has in practice depended on where people live, and the change aims to address that. - The scheme will prioritise placing more early-career doctors into specialist training posts at rural and coastal hospitals rather than adding consultants immediately. - The number of additional training places in cancer medicine has not been finalised and is under discussion between the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. - Cancer charities and the Royal College of Radiologists welcomed workforce and diagnostic focus, while the college emphasised the need for permanent senior consultant posts to retain staff. Summary: The government presents the staffing measure as part of a wider effort to reduce postcode-based differences in cancer diagnosis and treatment. A national cancer plan setting targets and funding for diagnostics and technology is due on 4 February. Details such as the total number of extra training places and how permanent consultant roles will be created remain undetermined at this time.