Debate contribution: Cancer Patients: ED Referral Pathway

Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on 18 February 2025.

MLA: Mr Mike Nesbitt
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 18 February 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Cancer Patients: ED Referral Pathway
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4806374

Text

I absolutely agree with the Member. After Christmas, I visited seven EDs, including Altnagelvin, which, as the Member knows, is the oldest of our type-1 EDs. Altnagelvin is more than ready for a replacement ED, and I hope that there will be one, although it may be five years before we get to that point. When I was in that ED, I spoke to people who had been in the same chair for four days. That is not acceptable under any circumstances. I met a man there who has since, sadly, passed away. He had cancer. He was on a trolley and had been for a number of days. He made it to a hospital bed for, I think, his last 24 or 48 hours on this earth. On GP referrals, the Northern Ireland Cancer Network has developed a resource for GPs to try to assist them in managing mild to moderate side effects, but I think that the Member is talking about much more serious conditions. I assure the Member that I am aware that more work needs to be done in this area and that that work will be done.

192 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Awaiting analysis

This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification