Other News In Brief

Waiting Times For Cancer Diagnoses Are Putting Lives At Risk - UUP

The latest publication of waiting times for cancer diagnostic and treatment services demonstrates that lives are being put at risk, the UUP has warned.

Spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, said it's clear there is a crisis in cancer diagnostic and treatment services.

The Upper Bann MLA said: "The official target for an urgent referral for suspected cancer is that 95% of patients should begin their treatment within 62 days. Yet the latest figures show that in March only 72% of patients were seen within this timeframe. In addition, the target waiting time for a first assessment with a breast cancer specialist is that all urgent breast cancer referrals should be seen within 14 days. Yet in March the figure was 82%, a frightening deterioration from the figure of 94% achieved only a few months before in January.

"Given the regular delays in spotting the symptoms, all further unnecessary delays in diagnosis and treatment must be avoided. Unfortunately however at present this is not the case. Every extra week or month between a diagnosis of cancer and starting treatment weakens the chances of making a full recovery."

St Brigid's Parish Centre Refurb Complete

Refurbishment work at St Brigid's Parish Centre in L'Derry is now complete.

The Parish Centre is owned and used by the Resource Centre Derry (RCD) which provides a wide range of services including Sure Start, meals on wheels, counselling, therapy services, and a service for the care of older people.

The overall cost of the scheme was £399,672, of which the Department for Social Development contributed £362,500, with the Resource Centre Derry funding the remaining balance.

Current Child Poverty Levels Are Unacceptable - McCann

Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann has said current and projected levels of child poverty are unacceptable.

Ms McCann said: "Low wages and deprivation mean that children from low-income families are being denied the basic right to opportunities and life chances that children from more affluent families enjoy.

"There is an onus on any Government to ensure its policies are focused and targeted to eradicate such inequalities.

"What we are seeing instead is the British government cutting services and benefits to poorer households and planning further cuts to tax credits from low-income working families.

"Families here who are already feeling the impact of low incomes and cuts to services for their children are becoming increasingly worried about what lies ahead as further cuts to social security and tax credits are proposed."

(CD/MH)