Balancing the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for patients with cancer and health-care workers with the need to continue to provide effective treatment and care is changing how oncology teams work worldwide. “The pandemic has meant a transformation of every aspect of cancer care, irres- pective of treatment, inpatient or outpatient, and radical or palliative intent,” said James Spicer (Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK).

High rates of sickness among health workers due to COVID-19 are dramatically reducing the numbers of available staff. A survey done by the Royal College of Physicians in April, 2020, found that about 20% (21·5% in London and 18·3% in the rest of England) of the 2513 members responding were taking time off work. The main reason was suspected COVID-19 followed by self-isolating because another household member had symptoms. “These absences would have had an impact on care delivery were it not for the knock-on effect on workload of deferral and modification of treatment driven by safety considerations and redeployment of staff,” explained Spicer. Academic staff are now working in the NHS full-time, and research fellows have returned to work in clinics and wards because research laboratories have closed. On- call rotas have been increased.

Cancer specialists predict that new ways of working in cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic will permanently change oncology services, after evaluating their impact. Slotman said, “This pandemic has led to new ways of working together and we should try to keep the best changes after the pandemic is over.”

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