A Northern Ireland cancer charity has said that waiting times for those diagnosed with breast cancer are “unacceptable” and are “among the worst on record”.
The warning follows the release of the latest NI cancer waiting times from the Department of Health (DoH) on Thursday.
It outlines the cancer waiting times in the Northern, South Eastern, Southern, and Western Trust hospitals from April through June 2024.
The Belfast Trust figures are not included as validated data was not available at the time of publication.
According to the data, around 580 patients waited longer than 62 days to start treatment for cancer following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer – just 35.8% of patients began treatment within the target.
Performance during the last quarter (April – June 2024) was the sixth worst on record (since April 2008).
All of the health trusts that provided data in this quarter missed the target.
The target set by the DoH is that at least 95% of patients with an urgent referral for suspicion of cancer must start treatment within 62 days.
The 62-day target includes time for tests to diagnose cancer including imaging, endoscopy and pathology tests.
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The data shows that of the 1,629 cancer patients who started their first definitive treatment, 91.4% started the treatment within 31 days (target: 98%); that of the 895 cancer patients starting treatment following urgent GP referral for suspect cancer, 35.8% started treatment within 62 days of the referral (target: 95%); and that of the 3,019 patients seen by a breast cancer specialist following urgent referral for breast cancer, 30.7% were seen within 14 days of the referral (target: 100%).
On the eve of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Thursday’s statistics are “among the worst breast cancer waits on record” according to Pat McClelland, a nurse and director of services at Cancer Focus NI.
“In the past 15 months, breast cancer waiting times have plummeted, to the point that we are now in a position where our Trusts are seeing less than half of the women they were seeing at the start of last year within the desired timeline,” she said.
“For patients and their families, these long waits are incredibly stressful, both when waiting on investigation for a suspect cancer and even more so when waiting on treatment commencing.
“In light of these unacceptable delays and inequalities between the Trusts, we welcome the Department of Health’s announcement yesterday of new initiatives for breast cancer services,” she added.
“We are relieved to see the Department recognise the significant need to address the delays and encouraged to see action getting underway.”
Ms McClelland pointed out that, within the announced initiatives, it includes plans for a regional approach to breast cancer assessment and surgery, combined with close-to-home aftercare and chemotherapy.”
Cancer Research UK’s senior public affairs manager for NI Debbie King, said the long waiting times are a “symptom” of the high pressures facing the health service.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
News Catch Up – Tuesday 24th September