NI cancer waiting times down but charity says still room to improve
New figures show patient targets being met in some areas
Last updated 28th Jun 2018
Cancer waiting times for patients across Northern Ireland have shown some improvements over the last year, it was revealed today (Thursday).
But top charity Cancer Research UK said there was still “a significant number of patients who are not being seen in time.”
Margaret Carr, public affairs manager for the charity in Northern Ireland added: “This is a reflection of a service under significant pressure.”
Latest Department of Health NI figures show three quarter of patients (260) were treated within the 62-day target – compared to 69% last year.
In addition, every single patient given an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer, was seen within the two-week target.
In its response, though, Cancer Research UK said some targets have never been met – and it called for a strategy to tackle the problem head-on.
“The statistics show, during the last quarter (January – March 2018), the percentage of patients with an urgent referral for a suspicion of cancer that started treatment within 62 days, ranged from 66.9% to 75.4%,” Ms Carr said. “The target is 95%t.
She said every health trust missed its target for the quarter.
“This target, set in 2009, has never been met across Northern Ireland,” she added.
“Waiting times targets are important. They are there to reassure patients they are being treated as a priority and are a barometer of how well services are coping.
“These latest statistics show there is a significant number of patients who are not being seen in time. This is a reflection of a service under significant pressure.
“We know that local hospitals make every effort to meet targets, but diagnostic staff shortages put services under severe strain. In what is the 70th year of the health service, more staff are needed to deliver the life-saving tests and treatments people need.
“A cancer strategy which includes action to assess and address staff shortages is desperately needed in Northern Ireland if patients are to be seen more quickly."