"Some patients who have been red flagged for breast cancer assessments are waiting up to seven weeks to be seen in Northern Ireland. The target set by Northern Ireland's devolved Department of Health (DOH) - which oversees five health and social care trusts - is 14 days. Judith Mullan, a nurse from Cookstown, who went private for an appointment said she was "frustrated" and "let down" by waiting times."
"BBC News NI understands that several breast cancer consultants are concerned that waiting times have spiralled since a new regional system for handling referrals was introduced. The system was criticised for creating a postcode lottery network as, depending on a patient's address, some were being seen more quickly than others. Before its introduction, health trusts managed their own red flag referrals."
Some patients red-flagged for breast cancer assessments face waits of up to seven weeks while the Department of Health target is 14 days. A new regional referral system has coincided with increasing waits and criticism that appointment times vary by postcode. Before regionalisation, trusts managed their own red flag referrals and some trusts, such as the Western Trust in May, met the 14-day target. Latest data show 250 patients waited more than 14 days and more than 1,100 people are on a red flag list. Projections suggest waits could reach 11 weeks. The Department of Health says it is working with trusts to increase capacity through additional clinics and workforce planning. A patient with a family history went private after being told of an eight-week minimum wait and described feeling frustrated and let down.
Read at www.bbc.com
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