More staff, more local services and more big data, says IPEM as it feeds into the National Cancer Plan
IPEM has submitted evidence to the National Cancer Plan, calling for increased investment in staff, more localised services and the better use of big data to improve screening programmes and tackle inequalities.
In its evidence, IPEM said:
"It is essential that we address the workforce challenges among diagnostic staff, especially among Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, in order to expand capacity. These professionals are essential, for example, in maintaining, calibrating, checking and operating complex imaging equipment to diagnose cancer. AI is now enabling the NHS to provide more targeted screening for certain cancers. Genomics, developed by healthcare scientists, has been key to this. This technology however, requires a sufficient number of Medical Physicists and Clinical Engineers to develop, evaluate and implement new technology safely, effectively and efficiently."
It also called for more localised services, making it easier for people to access the diagnostics and treatment they need. For example, IPEM supports the aspiration for everyone to be within 45 minutes of a radiotherapy centre, saying that the Government should "address the huge variation in radiotherapy access across the UK by supporting the safe and robust establishment of new Linac provision in areas currently distant from radiotherapy services."
New technology and big data offer massive opportunities to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
"There should be more funding and properly planned follow up of patients, across multi-disciplinary teams. Tools such as Patient Reported Outcome Measures could be used to assist with directing the most appropriate support to the right people at the right time.
Artificial Intelligence and big data analysis provide significant opportunities for population health, diagnostic and treatment programme transformation. Other technologies analyse population data to provide targeted diagnosis of serious conditions, such as increasing early cancer diagnosis rates. Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering professionals are highly educated and trained in mathematical techniques, risk-benefit analysis, optimisation techniques and regulatory compliance and should be at the forefront of deployment of this technology transformation programme.
Apps are increasingly popular among patients and are often developed in partnership with industry and academia. For example, there are now AI enabled apps for detecting skin cancer. Safeguarded funding for academic research and tech start ups would be a key enabler of this. Medical Physicists and Clinical Engineers will be required for quality assurance and implementation of these technologies, but they offer the potential for significant patient benefit. Many of these apps are being developed by tech start ups and Clinical Engineers are supporting the development of such local start ups up and down the country. They provide regulatory support, and help developers understand how they can deploy their solutions in the NHS system."
Among other issues IPEM covered in its submission were the importance of R&D and committing to new techniques in radiotherapy.
IPEM's submission was built from contributions from a number of expert members, who we are grateful to for their input. It builds on the many other consultations and calls for evidence that IPEM responds to.