Cancer Treatment Cancellations - FOI Response Register

1. The number chemotherapy sessions that have been cancelled (or postponed) due to staff shortages or the absence of the appropriate staff. Please provide a breakdown of the data in the last five financial years.

ZERO

2. The number radiotherapy sessions that have been cancelled (or postponed) due to staff shortages or the absence of the appropriate staff. Please provide a breakdown of the data in the last five financial years.

Radiotherapy is not carried out in NHS Shetland.

If, and only if, you’re unable to distinguish between radiotherapy and chemotherapy then just supply the number of cancer treatment/therapy sessions.

3. The number of cancer patient scan appointments that have been cancelled (or postponed) due to staff shortages or the absence of the appropriate staff. Please provide a breakdown of the data in the last five financial years.

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested. We have no way of identifying the reason for cancellation beyond hospital or patient and it is not always known if a scan is linked to a cancer pathway, particularly when a patient has multiple conditions. 

By scan appointments I mean when a patient is scheduled to have a scan to assess the cancer or effectiveness of treatment.