Charity demands MLAs get back to work to address cancer care crisis in Northern Ireland
Almost 100 cancer patients descended on Stormont today
Last updated 7th Nov 2023
Macmillan Cancer Support, along with over 90 people living with cancer, held a peaceful protest at Stormont today, demanding MLAs take immediate action to address the critical situation facing Northern Ireland’s healthcare system.
The local cancer charity lead a protest through Parliament Buildings to highlight the frustration and anger that people affected by cancer across NI feel at the lack of governance.
Attendees spent the day sharing stories of harrowing delays to tests and treatment.
The latest cancer waiting times figures for Northern Ireland, released in September, were the third worst on record with little over a third of people beginning their treatment on time following an urgent referral for suspected cancer from their GP.
Colleen McCallion from Bellaghy is 43 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2022. At her initial appointment five weeks after her mammogram, healthcare staff were concerned by her scans and she had further tests to confirm the diagnosis. She later found out that she had 2 different types of breast cancer.
Colleen said “I could have been waiting longer for my first appointment except for the fact that I was desperate to find out sooner and kept calling and calling to be seen. I eventually got a cancellation."
“Waiting for diagnosis and treatment had a real and serious impact on my mental health. You can only imagine what it’s like waiting. I know that some types of breast cancer are really fast developing and this thought was going through my mind constantly while I waited for news."
"I was always tearful and had sleepless nights with worry and anxiety. I was always worried with the long waiting times for appointments, if the cancer would spread. Thankfully it hadn’t. I was one of the lucky ones.”
Colleen started her first treatment in November 2022 and she has been through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She says that she has been treated ‘brilliantly’ by her local healthcare teams.
“The staff are absolutely terrific. It’s just that the waiting times aren’t good enough. It’s a government issue. MLAs need to go back to work as hospital waiting lists need to be urgently addressed. People’s lives are being put in real danger."
"If something as serious as cancer is detected early it can be very treatable and if not, it can be fatal. I’m here at Stormont today as I want to show my support for Macmillan for this very important cause.”
Macmillan Cancer Support is highlighting the crisis in cancer care through its campaign, and is calling on politicians in NI to get back to Stormont and take urgent action to ensure that cancer services have the right resources to meet an ever-increasing demand. If there are no MLAs working, there is no hope for people living with cancer, who need and deserve better.
Sarah Christie, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support in Northern Ireland said “Enough is enough. MLAs have left cancer care in Northern Ireland to rot, and we are here today to ask, if over 80 people with lived experience of cancer can show up at Stormont, why can’t you?"
“The situation faced by people with cancer in NI is dire. They feel let down by the system every step of the way, and although healthcare professionals are working tirelessly to deliver the best care they possibly can, there is no hope of improvement while MLAs have deserted their posts."
“We need MLAs to get back to work, resume governing and start to fix cancer care in NI. The Cancer Strategy must be fully funded and implemented without delay."
“We are here today to directly ask MLAs: what are you waiting for?”