Debate contribution: Public Petition: Make Pancreatic Cancer Detection a Health Priority
Debate contribution by Mr Stewart Dickson on .
- MLA
- Mr Stewart Dickson
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 2 June 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Assembly Business
- Heading
- Public Petition: Make Pancreatic Cancer Detection a Health Priority
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4980722
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Today, I present a petition that was created by Isla Gear, from Leven in Scotland, who tragically lost her brother, Tam, to pancreatic cancer just four weeks after his diagnosis. Isla launched a UK-wide petition from Tam's bedside on Christmas Day that calls for the targeted monitoring of high-risk individuals and for increased funding to develop effective, accessible diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer. Tam and Isla were determined to prevent others from facing that devastating disease and agreed that more needed to be done. Tam Barker was only 47 years old. He was a dedicated father to his then 11-year-old son, Max. He had previously lost a cousin to pancreatic cancer and therefore had annual blood tests done. Throughout 2024, Tam repeatedly sought medical help, attending at least six GP appointments and visiting A&E on numerous occasions with stomach pain, back pain, constipation and dramatic weight loss. It was not until months after his initial symptoms appeared that a CT scan finally confirmed that he had pancreatic cancer. Tragically, he passed away weeks later, on Boxing Day, without even meeting the consultant who had been assigned to his case. The impact of Isla's campaign speaks for itself: it is now the biggest petition ever relating to pancreatic cancer in the United Kingdom. That demonstrates the strength of feeling from the public that something must change. Here in Northern Ireland, pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer. Half of all patients die within three months of diagnosis. Without urgent action, pancreatic cancer is set to claim thousands more lives in Northern Ireland and is projected to overtake breast cancer as the fourth-biggest cancer killer here. Today, Pancreatic Cancer UK has submitted an open letter to accompany Isla's petition as part of its Unite, Diagnose, Save Lives campaign. The letter, which has received over 1,000 signatures in Northern Ireland, calls on the Executive to urgently introduce regular monitoring for those who are at high-risk, support the roll-out of new diagnostic tests and secure sustained funding for research. We welcome the Department of Health's recent commitment to deliver optimal care pathways for pancreatic cancer. That initiative aims to streamline diagnosis, treatment and supportive care, ensuring that pancreatic cancer patients receive the right support at the right time. We commend the vital work of charities such as Pancreatic Cancer UK and Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer. This petition and open letter highlight the urgent need for the Government to act swiftly. We must make early detection a reality instead of a rarity for people across Northern Ireland. Today, we are here for Tam, Max and Isla — Max and Isla are in the Public Gallery — and for every family who could face the devastating disease of pancreatic cancer. The time for action is now.
460 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.94).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.94 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.80 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.11 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.06 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.02 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:40 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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