‘Send in military’ says DUP as cancer patients lose out

This comes after more than 100 cancer patients were told their operations wouldn’t go ahead until a later date by the Belfast Trust because of the “increasing pressure on hospitals” fromcoronavirus.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has accused the Department of Health at Stormont of “a failure to adequately plan for the continuation of cancer care”.

She told the News Letter: “If you want to save a life the government should do anything, so if that means bringing in the military — absolutely, bring in the military.”

Her party’s health spokesperson, South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron, expressed a similar view.

“In other parts of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Defence have played a central role in easing the pressure on health service staffing and resources,” she said.

“The minister must strongly consider utilising them in Northern Ireland.”

The decision to cancel cancer procedures comes amid hospital admissions due to Covid comparable to the peak of the first wave, with 296 patients in hospital according to the latest figures, and thousands of health staff forced to self isolate after coming into contact with the virus.

Health Minister Robin Swann said there is no solution to the staffing crisis in the short term.

“It is no secret that we have long standing staffing pressures in our health service and they unfortunately cannot be fixed in the short term,” he said.

“I am committed to increasing our workforce however it takes years to train specialist staff who are equipped with the knowledge and skills that our health service needs and deserves.”

Mr Swann, in a statement to the assembly, said he has asked that “all patients whose cancer surgery was cancelled in recent days to be provided with a new date” from next Monday.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the Health and Social Care Board has been working with the private sector “to identify additional theatre sessions and day procedure lists”.

The spokesperson added: “It is proposed that this capacity is prioritised for cancer.”

The spokesperson also pointed to increased investment in cancer services, adding: “However, as the minister has stated, it takes time to recruit and train specialist staff.”