Debate contribution: Blood Cancers: Early Detection

Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on 5 May 2026.

MLA: Mr Mike Nesbitt
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 5 May 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Blood Cancers: Early Detection
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5524710

Text

CAR T-cell therapy has proven to be very successful. It will be introduced once we have the new haematology ward at Belfast City Hospital. Progress is being made on that, but it will be a number of years before the ward is available. The CAR T-cell procedure can operate only in particular clinical conditions. I believe that the respiratory conditions — the air around the procedure — are very important. Members have called for an all-island approach. I reiterate that we have discussed this with colleagues in Dublin. They have made it clear that they do not have the capacity to offer CAR T-cell therapy to patients in Northern Ireland at this time and that, if they were to set about trying to increase their capacity, it would take longer to do that than is scheduled for the opening of the new haematology ward at Belfast City Hospital.

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

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