Characterising the cancer healthcare professional workforce in the UK

Evidence is needed to inform cancer care careers, education, training and development policy and succession planning in the UK.

This study aimed to identify the demographic characteristics, specialist knowledge and skills, and career aspirations of the nursing and allied health professional cancer workforce in the UK.

Cross-sectional data were collected over 6 weeks via an online survey shared by cancer care professional societies in the UK and through social media.

There were 606 respondents. The age group with the highest proportion of respondents was 45-54 years. Most had >10 years' experience working in cancer care and the majority had an extended role. A lack of confidence correlated with lack of access to specialist education and training and career pathways. Forty-seven respondents planned to retire within 2-5 years. Workforce characteristics vary between different age groups and regions.

A coherent and comprehensive programme of cancer care education and training is needed to address variation in provision across the UK and the ageing workforce. Cancer nursing and allied health professionals experience difficulties in accessing specialist education and training, but provision requires sound data intelligence. Initial findings reported here can be built on in larger scale, longer term studies. The European Oncology Nursing Society cancer nursing education framework and the Health Education England ACCEND capability framework provide structure for specialist development and career planning for cancer nurses and allied health professionals. What is now needed is imagination, creativity, motivation, support and funding to implement these frameworks.