Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
In Northern Ireland, Cancer Research UK has raised concerns about the lengthy waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment that patients are facing, deeming the situation “unacceptable.” Liz Morrison, the charity’s public affairs manager in Northern Ireland, highlighted the distress that these delays are causing for individuals. She emphasized that extended waiting periods could result in missed treatment opportunities for some patients, or they may deteriorate to a point where they are no longer eligible for certain interventions, ultimately impacting their chances of survival.
Recent figures reveal that between April and June 2025, approximately 67% of patients (equivalent to 840 individuals) waited longer than 62 days from an urgent GP referral to commence cancer treatment. This performance falls significantly below the targets set for timely cancer care in the UK, as pointed out by Ms. Morrison. She stressed the urgent need for improvement in meeting these waiting time goals, which have consistently been unmet in Northern Ireland.
Ms. Morrison called on the Northern Ireland Department of Health to prioritize addressing cancer waiting times, especially in light of the appointment of Prof. Mark Taylor as the Clinical Director for Elective Care in July. With waiting lists for medical procedures at an all-time high in the region, she underscored the importance of making substantial progress in meeting the targets for cancer treatment timelines. Despite the challenges posed by the implementation of a new patient record system called encompass, the Department of Health reiterated the necessity of striving to achieve the 62-day treatment initiation goal for cancer patients as a critical aspect of improving healthcare services
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.