Urgent calls are being made for the recruitment and retention of radiation therapists to be addressed as the shortage is now reaching crisis point.
Cancer patients in Cork are facing significant delays as there is a 30% workforce shortfall compared to the demand at Cork University Hospital which is resulting in fewer available treatment slots.
Management at CUH say the crisis reflects a severe shortage of healthcare workers worldwide and say they're involved in an ongoing recruitment campaign to address the shortage.
The Irish Cancer Society says their most recent data shows that around seven in ten cancer patients are getting treatment on time.
SIPTU, which represents radiation therapists, says the pay gap between radiation therapists and other health care professionals needs to be addressed.
Speaking to RedFM News SIPTU's John McCamley says unless pay is addressed this crisis will only deepen.
"SIPTU's view on this says that there needs to be more places for radiation therapists to be trained.
"There's also a growing retention issue, because SIPTU conducted a survey recently of radiation therapists across the country, both in the public and private service, and around 48% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the role presently.
"A large percentage indicated that they don't see themselves remaining in the job going forward."
