The Department of Health needs to intensify action to resolve severe delays in breast cancer services, Alliance Health Spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister has said.

New statistics indicate just 8% of patients with an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer were seen by Health Trusts within the 14-day target, with some waiting more than twice as long to see a doctor.

"Every time the department provides an update on breast cancer services it is the same story: only a tiny fraction of patients being seen within the target waiting time and hundreds being left in limbo for weeks while they wait to see a specialist," Ms McAllister said. "For some patients to be waiting more than twice the target waiting time is shocking and something that the Minister must urgently get to grips with. Clinicians are doing their best to see patients quickly, but they have been over-stretched for far too long and they will rightly be asking what the Minister is going to do to increase capacity in the system and deliver the responsive cancer services that local patients need.

"Breast cancer is among the most common forms of cancer affecting women in Northern Ireland and sadly hundreds of lives continue to be lost to it here each year. Ensuring that new red flag referrals are seen quickly is vital to improving survival rates and must be treated as a priority by the Minister for the rest of his time in the role."