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31/03/2011
NI Misses Cancer Treatment Targets
Northern Ireland's hospitals have failed to meet target times for the treatment of patients referred for suspected cancer, a new report by the Department of Health revealed.
Its guidelines say 95% of patients should begin their treatment within 62 days. Last December however, the figure stood at 81%, which was the third monthly fall in a row.
Last October, of the 829 patients that were first seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer, 777 (93.7%) received their assessment within two weeks of referral.
In November 851 (99.0%) of the 860 patients referred were seen within 14 days.
Waiting times for treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer should be within 62 days.
Last November, this percentage decreased to 82.7% (201 out of 243 patients treated within 62 days).
This percentage then dropped slightly to 81.4% in December 2010, with 180 out of 221 patients treated within 62 days.
Breast cancer targets are also being missed.
The target waiting time for a first assessment with a breast cancer specialist should be within 14 days.
These announcements come after the controversial decision to postpone a radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.
The decision means that people in Co Londonderry and Co Donegal have to make the 200-mile round trip to the cancer centre in Belfast.
Earlier this year, the Belfast Trust recalled well over 100 people after a senior consultant was removed from his post at Belfast's Royal School of Dentistry.
A review of Professor Philip Lamey's work led to a hearing of the General Dental Council in London over fears that cases of oral cancer could have been missed.
See: Inquiry Ordered As MLAs Debate Dentist
(JG/GK)
Its guidelines say 95% of patients should begin their treatment within 62 days. Last December however, the figure stood at 81%, which was the third monthly fall in a row.
Last October, of the 829 patients that were first seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer, 777 (93.7%) received their assessment within two weeks of referral.
In November 851 (99.0%) of the 860 patients referred were seen within 14 days.
Waiting times for treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer should be within 62 days.
Last November, this percentage decreased to 82.7% (201 out of 243 patients treated within 62 days).
This percentage then dropped slightly to 81.4% in December 2010, with 180 out of 221 patients treated within 62 days.
Breast cancer targets are also being missed.
The target waiting time for a first assessment with a breast cancer specialist should be within 14 days.
These announcements come after the controversial decision to postpone a radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.
The decision means that people in Co Londonderry and Co Donegal have to make the 200-mile round trip to the cancer centre in Belfast.
Earlier this year, the Belfast Trust recalled well over 100 people after a senior consultant was removed from his post at Belfast's Royal School of Dentistry.
A review of Professor Philip Lamey's work led to a hearing of the General Dental Council in London over fears that cases of oral cancer could have been missed.
See: Inquiry Ordered As MLAs Debate Dentist
(JG/GK)
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Over 88% of people diagnosed with cancer began treatment within the 31 day target in the four months to September 2022, up from 86% in the previous four months. The Department of Health today published the Northern Ireland Cancer Waiting Times Statistics Release for the quarter ending September 2022.
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10 October 2011
Pink Lady Backs NI Cancer Research
A Saintfield woman, Noleen Adair, who knows about cancer, having discovered she had breast cancer at 22 to be faced with radical surgery and chemotherapy has been fundraising. Noleen refuses to put her life on hold and now, the charity she founded to help others facing breast cancer has presented a dazzling £50,000 to Friends of The Cancer Centre.
Pink Lady Backs NI Cancer Research
A Saintfield woman, Noleen Adair, who knows about cancer, having discovered she had breast cancer at 22 to be faced with radical surgery and chemotherapy has been fundraising. Noleen refuses to put her life on hold and now, the charity she founded to help others facing breast cancer has presented a dazzling £50,000 to Friends of The Cancer Centre.
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Yellowhammer Portraits Are Framing Success
Two local cancer charities, the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) and Friends of the Cancer Centre, have announced a unique fundraising initiative - the opportunity to buy a highly collectable piece of art by acclaimed Irish artist, Nicola Russell, while making a significant contribution to the work of both charities.
Yellowhammer Portraits Are Framing Success
Two local cancer charities, the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) and Friends of the Cancer Centre, have announced a unique fundraising initiative - the opportunity to buy a highly collectable piece of art by acclaimed Irish artist, Nicola Russell, while making a significant contribution to the work of both charities.
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15 August 2008
Cancer Foundation Offers Artistic Distraction
A new art therapy service for cancer patients has been launched by the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) as a pilot in Londonderry. UCF's art therapy service is being rolled out regionally with this being the first time it will be offered to local cancer patients in their own community.
Cancer Foundation Offers Artistic Distraction
A new art therapy service for cancer patients has been launched by the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) as a pilot in Londonderry. UCF's art therapy service is being rolled out regionally with this being the first time it will be offered to local cancer patients in their own community.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
