AQW 51269/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 08/09/2026
Answered On Date: 27/09/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether any assessment has been made of Cancer Research's Longer, Better Lives aim to reduce the cancer death rate by 15% by 2040.

Answer:

I welcome the launch of Cancer Research UK's Longer, Better Lives for Northern Ireland manifesto and the organisation's continued commitment to improving cancer outcomes for patients across Northern Ireland.

There is significant alignment between many of the objectives in the manifesto and the Department's ongoing work to improve cancer services and patient outcomes, and to reduce cancer mortality. This work is being advanced through established programmes and governance structures, including the Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland 2022-32, the Elective Care Framework, the Cancer Research Strategic Framework, the Cancer Strategic Advisory Forum, and the Cancer Steering Group.

Working collaboratively with stakeholders, including Cancer Research UK, the Department remains committed to improving cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, care and research, while continuing to drive forward implementation of the Cancer Strategy.