NI Cancer waiting time targets missed again
Recent figures from the Department of Health show ministerial targets for cancer waiting times in health trusts here are consistently failing to be met.
Only 63% of patients with an urgent referral for suspected cancer started treatment within 62 days from July-September 2017.
The target is 95%.
All health trusts missed the quarterly target which has not been met across the province since 2009.
Chief Executive of Cancer Focus NI, Roisin Foster, says the problem is only going to get worse:
"We feel real dismay that the targets haven't been met again.
"Also, without a Health Minister in post to drive forward some of the changes that we need to see real improvement so we have a road map for improving our health service.
"It's sitting up in Stormont and there's no Health Minister to action it," she said.
Mrs Foster also raised concerns over Breast cancer waiting times.
Patients with an urgent referral suspected of having the disease are supposed to be seen within two weeks, according to ministerial guidelines.
But in the past year, this fell from 96% of patients to 75% being seen within the recommended time-frame.
Roisin says the figures are due to staffing shortages:
"It's the breast cancer targets that say that any women with an urgent referral should be seen within 14 days.
"But there are specific problems in the Southern Trust and other trusts have been stepping in to help out but without additional resources really so other trusts are being affected as well."
The charity also raised concerns that the current cancer treatment model for patients here will soon become unsustainable.
"With an ageing population we will see cancer incidence rising and yet nobody in a position of power is sitting there actively planning for how we are going to deal with this and we find that absolutely mind blowing."
The Stormont stalemate and lack of a current Health Minister is also being blamed for increased cancer waiting times.
Roisin says the assembly must be urgently re-instated in order to tackle the problem:
"I think the people of Northern Ireland and the cancer patients of Northern Ireland deserve better.
"We can see these waiting times have fallen again, I know there are specific problems in trying to recruit staff into rural areas and into the Southern Trust and we're very sensitive and aware of that but nevertheless it's the patients that are suffering here and I think we do need effective leadership and government.
"Although cancer outcomes are actually improving, more people survive now than pass away, there's still that terrible fear in people.
"Despite all the work we've done, people still see cancer sometimes as a death sentence and for just over half of patients it isn't now.
"These are ministerial targets so the Minister carries responsibility for ensuring that they are met.
"We are very dismayed and worried for patients that month after month we're not seeing them met.
"I think Northern Ireland is stalling in health and in other areas as well.
"I think we have stalled, it's the long term planning that fails when leadership is lacking.
"The front line staff will keep things going, long term it's senior management that's driving the business forward, it's looking to the future and we're just not getting that."