Cancer waiting times ‘concerning’

The latest Department of Health statistics show that in March almost 54 per cent of patients started treatment following an urgent GP referral within the target of 62 days, down from almost 62 per cent for the same period the previous year.

In the same month, just over 80 per cent of patients with an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer were seen within the 14-day target, down from over 85 per cent in March 2019.

Health Minister Robin Swann said the statistics provide a ‘‘stark reminder’’ of the massive challenges that face the health care system in Northern Ireland.

“In deeply human terms, they illustrate the vital necessity of a major overhaul of how we provide health care across all disciplines.

“The restructuring of services necessitated to combat Covid-19 means that the waiting lists for the second quarter will in all likelihood be even worse.

“However, the response to this pandemic has also shown how the health service and the magnificent staff who work in it can rise to virtually any challenge.

“Changes which in the past would have taken years have been put in place in weeks.

“This sense of unity and purpose can provide a foundation to take forward the changes envisaged in the Rebuilding Health and Social Care Services (RHSCS) programme which I published earlier this month. These plans include ongoing emphasis on high priority cancer services.”

Dervilia Kernaghan, head of care services for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, said: “It is extremely concerning to see waiting times spiralling upwards and our heart goes out to people who are worried that they have not yet been able to get a diagnosis and to those who are waiting for their treatment to begin or resume. The impact on them is devastating on top of all the other stresses associated with COVID-19’’

She added: “The current crisis has also placed a massive strain on our health service and our health professionals are working courageously on all our behalf.

“Lengthy waiting times is an issue we have been highlighting for many years. We are supportive of reform of the health service but change is urgently needed. “We must take action now to recover from the delays caused by COVID-19 and also to improve on the inadequate waiting times that existed before.”

It has also emerged 850 women awaiting breast cancer screening in Northern Ireland.

Charity Action Cancer, which offers mammograms to women aged 40-49, and over 70 - those outside the NHS screening programme age brackets - said they were due to be seen in March before the coronavirus lockdown. The service will take at least six weeks to clear when it resumes in August.

The NI Cancer Registry has also reported there could be up to 800 people with cancer who have yet to be diagnosed.

It’s research found that since the beginning of March, the number of cancer patients being diagnosed is one third lower than in the previous three years.

In the five weeks up to 16 May, diagnoses were down by 41%.This means an estimated 700 to 800 people with cancer have not yet been diagnosed compared to previous years.