Chemo delays blamed on bank pay cuts

Patients have been waiting up to a month for chemotherapy appointments because of staffing shortages, partly caused by reductions in bank rates.

In August, patients at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust waited three to four weeks for new patient and pre-chemotherapy appointments, leading to breaches of the 31-day standard.

Board papers blamed “high levels of nursing vacancies” and said the August position was “due to lack of take-up of bank shifts due to NHSP [NHS Professionals] rate changes”.

Trusts in Kent and Medway are now paying less for temporary shifts after two separate changes: one for nurses and other Agenda for Change staff, and one for doctors

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 20 October 2026