Provide world-class cancer treatment

Provide rosetteMore people with cancer are surviving than ever before, thanks in part to better cancer services, new targeted treatments and the achievement of national standards of care. Patients have a right to expect rapid access to the best surgery, radiotherapy and medicines after diagnosis. When cost-effective treatments are developed, the Assembly should ensure that take-up is as fast as possible across the region.

We want the next Assembly to:

  • Maintain investment in cancer services, recognising the scale of the cancer burden in Northern Ireland and our poor survival rates compared to other countries
  • Take a lead in ensuring that new radiotherapy and surgery techniques which can improve outcomes and reduce side effects are rolled out across the NHS as rapidly as possible
  • Work with the Northern Ireland Cancer Network Drugs & Therapeutics Committee, HSC Trusts and other interest groups to ensure innovative cancer treatments are available to all eligible patients as soon as possible
  • Plan now for further advances in cancer treatment by developing models for more treatment in outpatient clinics, more local services to diagnose cancer and wider availability of genetic testing to allow more personalised treatment