Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has described cancer waiting times in the north as ‘intolerable’ and has called for the immediate restoration of the Assembly and Executive. 

Speaking as latest cancer waiting time figures for the north were released on Thursday, the party’s health spokesperson said:

“Cancer patients are being failed time and time again with no Assembly or Executive in place to tackle chronic and worsening waiting lists or to implement the cancer strategy. 

“Those with less survivable cancers, such as stomach, pancreatic and lung cancer, are not being diagnosed in time, and in the worst cases, are dying prematurely.

“This is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable, and must not be allowed to continue.

“Patients are crying out for an Executive to tackle waiting lists and to ultimately help save their lives. They need help now.

“It is decision time for the DUP. They should return to the Assembly and Executive with the rest of the parties and begin work to tackle health waiting lists and to fix our health service.

“Patients on health waiting lists cannot wait any longer.”