AQW 23930/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 08/10/2021
Answered On Date: 21/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what actions he is taking to ensure that the system for elective cancer surgeries is made more resilient.

Answer:

I can confirm that a number of actions have been taken to enhance the resilience of the elective cancer surgeries system; in order to protect cancer surgery the Department has carried out extensive planning for surge periods, which has included:

a.the development of green (i.e. staff and patients segregated from COVID-19 environments) pathways for surgical patients; the creation of green sites where surgery or diagnostics can be maintained throughout the pandemic;

b.regional planning and co-ordination of surgical capacity to ensure equitable access across Northern Ireland;

c.ICU beds protected for complex surgery; and, use of facilities in the independent sector.

Efforts are continuing maximise access to IS provision and waiting list initiative money is being made available to Trusts to enable them to provide additional clinics/lists where staffing allows. The Day Procedure Unit at Lagan Valley Hospital has also increased capacity to deliver red flag diagnostic procedures on a regional basis.

NICaN has also issued revised referral guidance for bladder and colorectal cancer which aim to support primary care decision making and streamline referrals. This includes the introduction of qFIT testing for patients with bowel symptoms into primary care from 5 July 2021. Finally, additional investment has been made into cancer tracking support to enable the proactive management of patients through their pathways.

However, even with these actions, the overall position remains challenging and continues to be kept under review by the Department and Health and Social Care Board.

Ultimately, a significant improvement in cancer waiting times will require a step change in both workforce and investment as outlined in the Cancer Recovery Plan; Building Back Better and the Elective Care Framework: Restart, Recovery and Redesign.