Cancer group warns over one surgeon for 182 pancreatic cancer operations

Rigshospitalet has only one surgeon with the required expertise to perform its 182 annual operations for pancreatic cancer, a situation the Danish Cancer Society called “strongly concerning” in a report by DR.

Pernille Slebsager, the society’s director of patient support, said the staffing level left the hospital’s highly specialised department too vulnerable given the severity of the disease. She said patients could feel safe for now, but many depended on surgery.

The figures come from a report the Capital Region of Denmark submitted to the Danish Health Authority. The authority had asked how Rigshospitalet could maintain pancreatic cancer surgery after three senior doctors were fired and two other surgeons left within a short period.

The report says the department is required to have at least three specialists with specific expertise in the operations. The hospital has tested cooperation with an experienced surgeon from Odense University Hospital, is in talks with other hospitals including Aarhus University Hospital, and expects to hire at least one experienced specialist.

The region said three doctors are training for the role and expects two to reach specialist-level experience within the coming year. It also said it expects to meet cancer waiting-time targets despite the reduced staffing. The Danish Health Authority has not yet commented on the report.