Support groups and cancer charities have expressed their concerns as cancer patients are set to miss out on vital treatment at Nottingham hospitals.
One NHS support group said it was "not a surprise" that Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) are currently having to limit chemotherapy treatment due to shortages in staff.
A charity also said that they were supporting patients who have had their treatment deferred by the trust, which operates a chemotherapy service at Nottingham City Hospital and Kings Mill Hospital.
Annie Walton, centre head at cancer support charity Maggie's, said: "We've got people in here that have had their therapy deferred.
"It's very concerning when you're chemotherapy is deferred but we as a charity are here to support people through that."
A spokesman for the Nottingham branch of Keep Our NHS Public added: "We are concerned but not surprised to hear that the NUH Trust is not currently able to operate a full chemotherapy service.
"In common with Trusts around the country, our local Trust has suffered years of underfunding by the Tory government, which has also completely failed to train enough new clinical staff to replace those leaving the NHS through burnout, both before and during the pandemic.
"The public expects and deserves an NHS that can support and treat them when needed, but governments have consistently failed to provide sufficient funding. Ministers need to understand that target-setting is pointless and destructive without making the necessary resources available.”
Dr Keith Girling, medical director at NUH, said the trust “do not have capacity to deliver a full chemotherapy service”.
“Our clinical teams are prioritising care based on the likely clinical benefit. We are deeply sorry for the concern and upset this will cause," he said.
“The chemotherapy unit staffing is currently severely impacted by sickness and vacancies affecting our ability to deliver a full service safely.
“We are supporting the staff and actively recruiting to posts and will ensure that any service limitations are for the shortest possible period.”
