Current proposals to reshape breast cancer services could result in the entire Southern Health Trust area left without any facility to assess patients, with the nearest centre located in Belfast.
Urging the public to respond to the consultation on Breast Cancer Assessment services across the North, local Sinn Féin councillors revealed the party is organizing campaigns to highlight the issue.
Slieve Gullion area councillor Roisin Mulgrew pointed out that breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in women across the north, but there is a “good chance of recovery” if it is detected at an early stage.
Stating the importance of responding to the public consultation process, she said: “There is a great fear that the Southern Trust area, which includes Daisy Hill and Craigavon Hospitals, will lose its Breast Cancer Assessment services. Any changes to the Breast Cancer Assessment must improve services while ensuring they are accessible, timely and delivering better outcomes for patients,”
Newry City councillor Liz Kimmins echoed her party colleague’s concerns and added: “We need to ensure breast assessment services are accessible, timely and deliver better outcomes for patients in this area. It is intolerable to think that removing breast assessment services locally would leave women and men living in this area having to travel to places like Antrim Area Hospital or Belfast hospitals to access these life saving services.
“Sinn Féin representatives are organising campaigns locally to highlight our concerns and to encourage all to respond to the consultation. It is so important that people respond to this consultation and make their views known on these proposals. For reconfiguration to work it needs to be done in partnership with those who use and those who deliver services.”
To respond to the consultation, visit www.consultations.nidirect.gov.uk