REVEALED: Shock extent of NI's rising waiting times for cancer assessment
Concern over urgent referrals not getting treatment within two months
Last updated 30th Mar 2018
A third of patients In Northern Ireland “urgently” referred to a specialist for suspected cancer, are waiting up to two months for treatment, it emerged today.
Shock new Department of Health figures showed that from October to December 2017 just over 66% of patients had started treatment within 62 days compared with nearly 70% during the same period the previous year.
That is in breach of the department target of 95%.
All of the trusts across the province failed to meet this target.
Breast cancer waiting times were also breached.
Health officials say that all urgent referrals for this type of the disease should be seen within a fortnight.
But this has fallen by 10% in a year.
Cancer Research UK branded the figures “extremely disappointing”.
Margaret Carr added: “The delays are getting worse. Patients are being let down.
“Some people are waiting too long to find out whether they have cancer and for treatment to begin which is a distressing time for them and their families.
“Health staff are working in a difficult environment and doing their best for patients, but the lack of an Assembly and Executive means there’s no current cancer strategy or plan of action to transform Northern Ireland’s cancer services.
“Some of this year’s recently announced additional funding for health transformation should be set aside to improve cancer services. It’s crucial we see progress on this as soon as possible.”
Waiting times can be viewed online at: