Chairperson’s comment on spiralling waiting times for OG patients

OGCancerNI findings highlight a critical issue with significant implications for patients’ survival and well-being. Long waiting times, especially for those with red flag referrals for suspected cancer, not only delay life-saving diagnoses and treatments but also exacerbate stress and anxiety for patients and their families.

The “Catch It Early” campaign’s mission underscores a well-documented fact: early diagnosis is key to effective treatment, improved prognosis, and increased survival rates in cancer care. Yet, without timely access to initial consultations, even the best awareness efforts are hampered by systemic bottlenecks. A delay of weeks, months, or even up to a year could make an otherwise treatable condition potentially fatal, and our insights demonstrate just how urgent the situation is for oesophageal and gastric cancer patients across Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt pointed out that the healthcare workforce crisis and budget shortfalls add complexity to an already challenging situation. The current £100 million shortfall and disparities in healthcare worker pay worsen recruitment and retention issues, stretching an already overextended workforce. However, a clear pathway to reducing waiting times must be established, even amidst these fiscal challenges.

In addition to our call for immediate action from the Health Minister, perhaps further advocacy efforts could include:

1. Public Reporting of Waiting Times: Regularly published data on waiting times by local health trusts would increase transparency and incentivise improvement.
2. Exploration of Short-Term Solutions: Temporary measures, such as extending consultant clinic hours or utilising telemedicine for initial consultations, could help alleviate immediate backlogs.
3. Investment in Diagnostic Resources: Increasing capacity in endoscopy and radiology services specifically for red-flag cases could expedite initial assessments.

Our plan to request a meeting with the Health Minister is timely and necessary. Collaboration with other stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and patient advocacy groups, could add further weight to OGCancerNI’s campaign and ultimately prompt faster action on this critical issue.

Mrs Helen Setterfield, MBE

Chair, OGCancerNI