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| Cancer: One in five cancer diagnoses 'in Emergency Departments' | Cancer: One in five cancer diagnoses 'in Emergency Departments' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| One in five people in Northern Ireland receive their cancer diagnosis while attending an emergency department (ED), according to research by the NI Cancer Registry. | One in five people in Northern Ireland receive their cancer diagnosis while attending an emergency department (ED), according to research by the NI Cancer Registry. |
| The registry confirmed to BBC News NI that, at present, a quarter of bowel cancers are being diagnosed in EDs. | The registry confirmed to BBC News NI that, at present, a quarter of bowel cancers are being diagnosed in EDs. |
| It said mostly older patients are affected. | It said mostly older patients are affected. |
| Its research also found that a third of lung cancers in NI are diagnosed after a patient turns up at an ED. | Its research also found that a third of lung cancers in NI are diagnosed after a patient turns up at an ED. |
| According to senior health professionals and some cancer charities patients having to wait lengthy times to see a consultant is contributing to the problem. | |
| Earlier this week, BBC News NI revealed that a number of non-emergency operations across Northern Ireland have had to be suspended, as a result of staff shortages. | Earlier this week, BBC News NI revealed that a number of non-emergency operations across Northern Ireland have had to be suspended, as a result of staff shortages. |
| It has also emerged that the number of patients who waited more than 12 hours in Northern Ireland's emergency departments in September was double the same time last year. | It has also emerged that the number of patients who waited more than 12 hours in Northern Ireland's emergency departments in September was double the same time last year. |
| Survival rate 'lowest' | Survival rate 'lowest' |
| The head of services at Macmillan Cancer Support, Heather Monteverde, said the statistics about diagnoses were "shocking and extremely worrying". | The head of services at Macmillan Cancer Support, Heather Monteverde, said the statistics about diagnoses were "shocking and extremely worrying". |
| She said emergency departments cannot provide the very specialist care needed by cancer patients. | She said emergency departments cannot provide the very specialist care needed by cancer patients. |
| Ms Monteverde added that only 55% of cancer patients in Northern Ireland are starting treatment within the 62-day target, a figure that was "deteriorating month-by-month". | Ms Monteverde added that only 55% of cancer patients in Northern Ireland are starting treatment within the 62-day target, a figure that was "deteriorating month-by-month". |
| "Behind the statistics are individual people who are worried that they are very ill," she told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. | "Behind the statistics are individual people who are worried that they are very ill," she told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. |
| "They have attended their GP and sometimes they are on very long waiting lists; their condition is deteriorating and they feel they have no other option but to pitch up in an emergency department. | "They have attended their GP and sometimes they are on very long waiting lists; their condition is deteriorating and they feel they have no other option but to pitch up in an emergency department. |
| "Or indeed, sometimes their GPs are so frustrated that they can't get them seen, their GPs are advising them to attend an emergency department." | "Or indeed, sometimes their GPs are so frustrated that they can't get them seen, their GPs are advising them to attend an emergency department." |
| The cancer survival rate is lowest for patients who present via emergency than any other route, although it is thought this is because those patients tend to have later-stage cancers than those who present via other medical routes. | The cancer survival rate is lowest for patients who present via emergency than any other route, although it is thought this is because those patients tend to have later-stage cancers than those who present via other medical routes. |
| Ms Monteverde said EDs are not the ideal environment to learn that you have the disease. | Ms Monteverde said EDs are not the ideal environment to learn that you have the disease. |
| "For most people, a cancer diagnosis is a fairly devastating event in their lives," she said. | "For most people, a cancer diagnosis is a fairly devastating event in their lives," she said. |
| "To be in a really busy A&E department which is quite often mayhem - it's noisy, it's crowded; there's no privacy." | "To be in a really busy A&E department which is quite often mayhem - it's noisy, it's crowded; there's no privacy." |
| Earlier this year, a report by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry found that 74% of the 4,316 people who died from cancer in Northern Ireland in 2015 were admitted to Emergency Departments in the final years of their lives. | Earlier this year, a report by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry found that 74% of the 4,316 people who died from cancer in Northern Ireland in 2015 were admitted to Emergency Departments in the final years of their lives. |
| Also, one in six (17%) people died within seven days of their last emergency admission and almost all (95%) of these died in hospital. | Also, one in six (17%) people died within seven days of their last emergency admission and almost all (95%) of these died in hospital. |
| Anna Gavin from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry agreed with Ms Monteverde that longer waiting lists had added to the number of cancer patients being diagnosed in EDs. | Anna Gavin from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry agreed with Ms Monteverde that longer waiting lists had added to the number of cancer patients being diagnosed in EDs. |
| "Unfortunately, the people who present through A&E present are at the later stage of disease and their survival [rate] is much lower than if they present through some of the other ways that you can come into the system." | "Unfortunately, the people who present through A&E present are at the later stage of disease and their survival [rate] is much lower than if they present through some of the other ways that you can come into the system." |
| Ms Gavin said when there are screening programmes in place, such as breast and bowel cancer screening, it led to a "wide variation" in the number of ED diagnoses, compared to conditions where no regular screening is carried out. | Ms Gavin said when there are screening programmes in place, such as breast and bowel cancer screening, it led to a "wide variation" in the number of ED diagnoses, compared to conditions where no regular screening is carried out. |
| Breast assessment targets | Breast assessment targets |
| However, the 14-day breast assessment target has not been met again in Northern Ireland. | However, the 14-day breast assessment target has not been met again in Northern Ireland. |
| During March, 1,387 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist for a first assessment following an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer. | During March, 1,387 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist for a first assessment following an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer. |
| Of these, 85.6 % (1,187) were seen within 14 days compared with 100% in the previous year. | Of these, 85.6 % (1,187) were seen within 14 days compared with 100% in the previous year. |
| Statistics published by the Department of Health show 69.4% of new referrals for suspected breast cancer were classified as urgent in March 2019. | Statistics published by the Department of Health show 69.4% of new referrals for suspected breast cancer were classified as urgent in March 2019. |
| The department said the waiting times are "unacceptable". | The department said the waiting times are "unacceptable". |
| Previously the permanent health secretary said that it would take £1bn to tackle Northern Ireland's hospital waiting lists. | Previously the permanent health secretary said that it would take £1bn to tackle Northern Ireland's hospital waiting lists. |