Specialist sarcoma services need all the staff and skills required to look after people with sarcoma.
The sarcoma specialist workforce is affected by staff shortages, skills gaps and a lack of workforce planning.
These pressures affect key specialist roles including radiologists, histopathologists, clinical nurse specialists and surgeons.
Why this needs to change
Sarcoma care relies on highly skilled specialist teams, but shortages, recruitment challenges and gaps in specialist training are putting pressure on services.
- 13% of patients said they did not have a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in charge of their care at any point, while a further 10% only had CNS support for part of their treatment.
- Not everyone receives specialist sarcoma care. In the National Sarcoma Survey 2025, 84% of adult respondents said they were treated by a specialist sarcoma team.
- Some specialist services are operating with very limited staffing. The State of the Nation review heard of one specialist centre in Scotland with only four hours of allocated clinical specialist time for sarcoma patients.
- CNS shortages can leave gaps in care. The State of the Nation review heard that Northern Ireland had only two whole-time-equivalent sarcoma CNSs across two NHS Trusts.
- Specialist pathology is under particular pressure. The State of the Nation review heard that one major soft-tissue sarcoma unit routinely had only two full-time pathologists handling all patient diagnostics.
- Recruitment, retention and specialist training remain significant challenges. The State of the Nation review highlighted particular concerns around histopathology, radiology, oncology and specialist nursing, as well as the limited opportunities for healthcare professionals to develop sarcoma expertise.
What we want to see change
Specialist sarcoma services need the right number of staff, with the right specialist skills, to meet the needs of people diagnosed with sarcoma.
The UK Government and Devolved Administrations should:
1. Review workforce plans for sarcoma services
By the end of 2027, workforce plans for rare and less common cancers, including sarcoma, should be reviewed to make sure specialist services have the staff and expertise they need.
2. Carry out staffing and skills audits
Workforce plans should be informed by staffing and skills audits against service needs and clinical guidance, so gaps can be identified and addressed.
3. Take action on retention and skills gaps
Plans should be put in place to address retention and skills gaps in key specialist roles, including radiologists, histopathologists, clinical nurse specialists and surgeons.
What difference would this make?
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