Experts fear staff shortage is hitting radiotherapy services

NHS TRUST IS SEARCHING FOR SCIENTISTS - BUT INSISTS THERE IS NO RISK TO PATIENTS

- By JOEL MOORE

NOTTINGHAM hospital bosses insist there will be no disruption to its radiotherapy services despite experts' concerns that a staff shortage could "jeopardise" their future.

Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, is seeking new scientists for its radiation protection team, as staffing levels remain "significantly below what is required", according to a report.

Radiation protection teams ensure radiation is used safely and legally across hospitals services.

This covers radiology such as X-ray, MRI and CT scans, as well as for radiotherapy, which is used for treating cancer.

In a report prepared for hospital leaders in November, the trust's head of radiation physics said the staff shortage would impact on the team's ability to "keep the organisation safe" and meet regulatory requirements.

This would be "jeopardising ongoing service provision in areas utilising radiation", said Matthew Dunn, who penned the report, along with Adam March, the chair of the ionising radiation safety committee.