Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed an announcement from the Health Minister on the re-establishment of cancer services, having recently pressed on it.

In a statement to the Assembly, the Minister said the Executive had endorsed his Department’s draft policy statement, setting out short and medium-term plans to rebuild and stabilise cancer oncology and haematology services.

“I welcome this statement from the Health Minister setting out a clear way forward to rebuilding and re-opening cancer services in a number of areas,” said South Belfast MLA Ms Bradshaw.

“As Chair of the All-Party Group on Cancer, we had raised the grave concerns both of patients and staff around the lack of provision in a number of areas with the Chief Nursing Officer as part of her role in the re-building of services.

“We need to be clear, with cancer, all care is urgent. The challenge now is to see similar priority given to other vital services, particularly for neurology and other long-term conditions, as well as vital work to reconfigure services to bring down waiting times and deliver swift, efficient service across all of health and social care.”