Cancer: new figures show hundreds of NI 'red-flag' patients not treated within 62-day target

Shock new figures show just under two thirds of red-flagged patients did not begin their cancer treatment in Northern Ireland- within the 62-day target

Only 320 of a total of 895 patients were treated - despite all of them having an urgent referral from their GP

Cancer Research UK branded the new Department of Health stats, from April to June this year, "unacceptable."

Debbie King, Cancer Research UK’s senior public affairs manager for Northern Ireland, said: “These long waiting times are a symptom of the huge pressures facing health services in Northern Ireland.

“HSC staff are working incredibly hard, but the lack of skilled staff such as radiologists and pathologists, as well as cancer doctors and nurses, means the system can’t cope.

“It’s an unacceptable situation for patients left worrying that they have a disease that could progress if left untreated.

“Despite the challenging situation, the Northern Ireland Executive must make the necessary investment that’s needed to ensure people don’t miss out on life-saving cancer care.

“Prioritising, fully funding and implementing Northern Ireland’s 10-year cancer strategy is needed. This ambitious programme has the power to stabilise services and radically improve the situation for cancer patients in the long term..”

The new figures, which exclude the Belfast Trust, show 35.8% (320) of those patients started treatment within 62 days, compared with 33.8% (331.5) in the previous quarter and 39.4% (414) in the same quarter last year.

Department of Health targets state at least 95% of patients should begin their first definitive treatment for cancer within 62 days of an urgent General Practitioner (GP) referral for suspect cancer.

Meanwhile, 1,629 patients started their first definitive treatment for cancer in the last quarter.

That is 135 patients fewer than in the previous quarter.

With regards to breast cancer, more than 3,000 suspect patients were seen which was 306 more thatn the previous quarter.

Of those 928 were seen withing the 14-day target.

That is compared with 1,048 in the previous quarter.