Mrs Dodds said:
“The latest cancer waiting time statistics are nothing short of a scandal. Despite the Department of Health’s own targets, we are seeing the worst performance in over a decade -targets that haven’t been met since 2012. I brought this motion forward because I am determined these failings should no longer pass unnoticed.
Half of us in Northern Ireland will face a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, yet only 37.9% of patients begin treatment within 62 days of GP referral - far short of the 95% target. For breast cancer, just 31.7% are seen within 14 days. That is letting women down at the most frightening moments of their lives. The Department’s new regional approach for red flag breast cancer assessments – announced today - is welcome, but it should not have taken until now to see this change given that some of us have called for this for some time.
We must also speak for our children - nearly 25,000 are waiting to see a paediatrician, and 2,000 are waiting for surgery across the Belfast and South Eastern Trusts. This is a fundamental failure of our system.
There must be accountability. The Elective Care Framework lacks ambition. It has failed to attract large-scale providers who could deliver real efficiencies. Instead, we see costly, ineffective schemes that don’t increase overall capacity and disadvantage those unable to pay upfront.
We have more doctors and nurses than ever, yet outcomes continue to decline. There is no excuse for the underuse of theatre time when surgeons want to do more.
Other parts of the UK are reforming - community diagnostic centres, extended hours, digital access, and performance-based incentives. Northern Ireland should be doing the same. We already spend more per capita on health than anywhere else in the UK. It’s time we delivered results to match that investment.”