A dedicated cancer treatment unit at South West Acute Hospital should be created after it emerged that 205 people in Fermanagh-south Tyrone die each year from cancer, says Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton.
There are over 660 cases of cancer diagnosed in Fermanagh-south Tyrone each year with the most common cancers being bowel, prostate and breast according to Mrs. Barton who revealed the figures during a debate on cancer waiting times on Tuesday.
“While the Western Trust is one of the highest performing trusts, with an average of 91 per cent of patients first treated following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer, it is still below the ministerial target of 95 per cent,” she said.
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Mrs. Barton praised the Trust for achieving 100 per cent in relation to the number of patients first being treated within the 31 day target and for the 100 per cent target being reached for the number of patients first seen by a breast care specialist following an urgent referral for suspected cancer within 14 days.
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While the Western Trust has reached its targets, there are still approximately 200 deaths too many from cancer in Fermanagh-south Tyrone, said Mrs. Barton.
“As Fermanagh-south Tyrone is registered as having the second highest number of cancer cases each year, serious thought must be given to increasing the services offered at the South West Acute Hospital, including a cancer treatment unit there,” she said.
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