§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cancer units have a medical oncologist; [121691]
464W(2) which cancer centres are without (a) a clinical oncologist and (b) a medical oncologist. [121641]
§ Yvette CooperThe Calman/Hine report published in 1995 emphasised the importance of the integration of the work of cancer units with a cancer centre. Each cancer unit should have in place arrangements for non-surgical input (medical and clinical oncologists) into services. Local arrangements will depend on cancer site specialisation by the oncologist and the cancer unit, but sufficient time must be available in the cancer unit to guarantee a firm commitment to those local oncology services. Consequently individual clinicians may work in more than one trust.
Results from the medical workforce census for England show that at 30 September 1999 there were (a) 700 clinical oncologists employed by 80 National Health Service trusts and (b) 380 medical oncologists employed by 70 NHS trusts.