Cancer wait times 'dangerously long', says patient
A cancer patient in Northern Ireland is highlighting the critical impact of long wait times for scans and results on patient outcomes. Campaigners are urging the government to commit to a 15% reduction in cancer death rates by 2040 through improved screening and faster diagnostic access.
Why it matters
It underscores the systemic strain on public healthcare systems and the direct correlation between diagnostic delays and patient survival rates.
John McClean said waiting for medical outcomes meant he was "constantly on a knife-edge" [BBC] A man who has been fighting incurable cancer for seven years has said increased times between scans and results are becoming "dangerously long" for himself and other patients.
John McClean said waiting for medical outcomes meant he was "constantly on a knife-edge". A lack of radiologists in Northern Ireland meant scans had to be sent to Australia to be analysed, leading to further delay, he said.
Campaigners, survivors and experts have gathered at Stormont to call on the executive to make a commitment to reduce the cancer death rate by 15% by 2040.
The Department of Health (DoH) said while cancer waiting times are "not where we want them to be", work is "underway to improve performance".
McClean is backing the manifesto by Cancer Research UK.
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