Notes:

1. This information was obtained directly from the NI HPSS trusts.

2. WTE = whole-time equivalent.

3. Medical staff include consultant physicians, thoracic surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, radiologists and oncologists, and specialist registrars.

4. Nursing staff include grade F, G and H clinical specialists.

5. Other staff include physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapist and other palliative care staff.

6. Altnagelvin reported that the lung cancer specialists do not work exclusively in lung cancer but are all active members of the lung cancer multidisciplinary team.

7. Belfast City Hospital stated that all respiratory physicians within Belfast City Hospital Trust investigate lung cancer, and that lung cancer is just one of the specialties within the consultant oncologists’ job, therefore it is difficult to provide the exact time spent working on lung cancer.

8. Newry and Mourne HSS Trust stated that they have one respiratory physician who spends 5 per cent. of his time on early diagnosis of patients with lung cancer, before referring them to cancer specialists in Craigavon Area Hospital or Belfast.

9. Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust stated that the medical staff detailed in their reply deal with the surgical element of the lung cancer specialism only.

10. United Hospitals Group HSS Trust stated that the two physicians employed there treat lung cancer patients as part of their work, but are not solely employed as lung cancer specialists. They were unable to determine how much of their time was spent specifically on lung cancer patients.

11. Western board area figures exclude Sperrin Lakeland Trust who were unable to provide an answer to this PQ within the specified time.

Source:

NI HPSS Trusts