NI charities warn: Cancer strategy here 'ten years out of date'
Northern Ireland cancer charities are urging MLAs to consider an urgent review of the current cancer strategy.
It comes as the Northern Ireland cancer registry warned cases of the disease here could rise by almost two thirds by 2035.
Charities say they are becoming concerned that with an outdated cancer policy, patients in Northern Ireland could be at risk.
Chief Executive of Cancer Focus NI, Roisin Foster says new provision for cancer patients is needed urgently:
"We have a ten-year-old cancer strategy.
"Cancer has changed so much in those ten years and we know it is going to change hugely in the next ten years.
"We know with an ageing population and other changes, cancer incidence is going to rise.
"And I can see no evidence of anyone, if you like, in charge, sitting down saying 'how are going to deal with this massive increase that we see?"
Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK and Ireland which does not have an up-to-date policy in place.
On Monday, 17 MLAs met with nine cancer charities here.
They urged politicians to review the current model as a matter of urgency.
"We see no progress, in fact, the past year, we have seen a reversal really because we do not have that drive and ambition to improve our services," said Roisin.
"It needs to be there, we need someone who is driving this forward with clear ambition with the well-being of cancer patients at their very heart.
"How can we ensure that as much cancer is prevented as we can?
"That people who have cancer are diagnosed early, are treated early, have a full range of treatments available and have therefore the best outcomes and the best chance of recovery and leading a good life afterwards?"
Alliance party MLA Paula Bradshaw is chair of the all party group.
She said a new policy is vital for cancer patients here:
"We need a cancer strategy so that we can join up every aspect of cancer treatment and research.
"From finding cures to delivering palliative care and ensure that caring for people with cancer is central to the overall transformation of health and social care."
Cancer Focus NI also pleaded with MLAs to resume talks to restore a power sharing government at Stormont, to ensure any new policy can be implemented:
"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.
"It's like in any business, the front line staff will keep things going.
"Long term it's senior management that's driving the business forward, that's looking to the future and we're just not getting that," said Roisin.
Figures revealed last week by the Department of Health showed cancer waiting times targets are consistently being missed across Northern Ireland.
The charity said it comes as no surprise:
"We can see these waiting times, they've fallen again, I know there are specific problems in trying to recruit staff into rural areas and we are very sensitive and aware of that.
"But nevertheless it's the patients who are suffering here and we do need effective leadership and government."