Breast Cancer Diagnosis Delays: A Growing Crisis in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s healthcare system is under scrutiny as medical professionals report alarming delays in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Jilly O’Hagan, a County Antrim general practitioner, has expressed deep concern over the situation, citing cases where patients waited over eight weeks to see a specialist following a suspected cancer referral.

The issue is particularly acute in the Notting Hill Medical Practice, where 32 women were flagged as high-priority cancer cases within a five-month period. Three of these patients received late diagnoses, with one woman eventually resorting to private healthcare after being told she was 80,000th on the waiting list. She later confirmed she had stage two breast cancer.

Dr. O’Hagan emphasized that these delays are not experienced by patients in England, Scotland, or Wales, questioning why Northern Irish women are receiving substandard care. The Northern Ireland Cancer Network guidelines stipulate that red-flagged patients should be seen by a specialist within two weeks, but current waiting times are significantly longer.

Cancer Research UK has confirmed that Northern Ireland has the worst cancer waiting times in the UK, with over 67% of patients waiting longer than the 62-day target for treatment to begin after a cancer diagnosis.