Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Life-saving chemo gets rescheduled ..because it falls on a bank holiday
Charities say delay bad for ill patients Trust told to explain its policy by MLA
AROUND 780 cancer patients had to have their chemotherapy rescheduled in May and June because of bank holidays.
Historically the Belfast Trust does not provide chemo services on public holidays, directly affecting about 100 patients each time.
But the knock-on effect of those delays is hitting even more as officials admitted “there was insufficient capacity within the service to reschedule all patients into the following week”.
Melanie Kennedy, from NI Cancer Advocacy Movement said: “For people who need their chemotherapy to stay around it’s really not good enough.
“A couple of the patients that have raised money to help them access drugs have had this problem.
“To be told it’s a bank holiday, you are not getting your chemo is absolutely ridiculous, when other people are being rescheduled – it’s just not on.”
Cancer Focus NI chief executive Roisin Foster said: “We understand that staff who work in the Cancer Centre and in the labs processing tests are fully entitled to have statutory holidays.
“There is, however, an understanding that the sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated the better. All public awareness campaigns stress this.
“It is, therefore, understandable that patients can get very anxious when their treatment is delayed.”
The charity urged the Belfast Trust to “plan for this”. She added: “Unlike sudden staff illness, bank holidays are known about well in advance.”
Ms Foster said they would also “welcome more research looking at the effect of delayed treatment on secondary cancer patients”.
She added: “Patients whose cancer has recurred or who are receiving palliative treatment will be very concerned to ensure they receive optimal treatment.
“Cancers vary greatly and the issue of speed of treatment can be more critical for some patients than others.”
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan called on officials to explain the policy.
He said: “Cancelling appointments for bank holidays does not seem to be routine in other health services. The testimony from
YESTERDAY
patients who have had their appointments cancelled on bank holidays is hard to hear but it’s crucial that we listen and learn from their experience.”
A spokesman for the Belfast Trust said they know cancer treatment “can be a very worrying time for patients and their loved ones”.
They said the problem comes down to “significant capacity challenges” as “medical, nursing and pharmacy teams as well as a range of support services” are needed for cancer treatment.
The source added: “The Belfast Trust’s oncology and haematology services have historically been closed on bank and public holidays and consequently the majority of staff, except those delivering 24-7 care and emergency care, have these days off.
“We continue to do everything we can to minimise waiting times for patients and to explore how we can improve the situation for patients whose treatment falls on a public holiday.”