Since we updated you in summer, we’ve continued to work towards our goal that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer lives and is supported to live well in Northern Ireland.
In this section
Please read on to learn what we’ve been doing across Northern Ireland to help achieve that, working together with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and other charities.
Wear it pink
As part of breast cancer awareness month, we worked with MLAs to #wearitpink and help fix issues across the breast cancer pathway in Northern Ireland.
We briefed members of the Northern Ireland Health Committee on breast cancer issues, ahead of their meeting on 17 October. With the Health Minister in attendance, it was a great opportunity to promote the importance of breast cancer awareness month.
The First and Deputy First Ministers and the Health Minister publicly supported breast cancer awareness month.
We also hosted a wear it pink event in Westminster which was attended by MPs from across the UK, including Northern Ireland.
In addition, we had a stand at the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care Conference where we spoke with MLAs, ministers' teams, and health and social care leaders on the key issues facing breast cancer patients in Northern Ireland.
And we’ve continued to work with other charities as part of Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition. We’re looking forward to working more closely with them in 2025 to ensure that problems facing the wider cancer care are addressed.
Shaping the government's priorities
To help shape the Executive’s priorities, we responded to its Programme for Government consultation, which outlines its priorities for 2024-2027.
In our response, we highlighted the need to improve breast cancer waiting times by designing a service which puts patient needs first.
We also recommended they focus on ensuring breast cancer is detected earlier, improving care and support for secondary breast cancer and developing and delivering new and effective treatments.
Share your own views
To improve breast cancer care in Northern Ireland, we want decision makers to hear your views too! The Department of Health is running a Women’s Health Survey for Northern Ireland and they want to hear from women about their health needs and experiences to help shape women’s health services.
Several of the questions specially cover breast cancer, and question C1 also asks ‘Which women's health topics and concerns do you think the Women’s Health Strategy should cover?’ This is a great chance to tell them that breast cancer should be included, because:
- awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer is important for all women to know
- all women will be invited to be screened between the ages of 50 – 70
- there are areas of treatment which are specifically relevant to women, such as breast reconstruction, which over often overlooked in broader health and cancer strategies.
You can take part in the survey here. The survey closes on 31 January, so you don't have long.
Other opportunities to get involved
The Department of Health have started their consultation Hospitals - Creating A Network For Better Outcomes, which you can take part in.
And they’ve announced they’re developing a regional waiting list for breast cancer assessment, and undertaking a wider review of breast cancer services.
We want to make sure our response and engagement around these consultations and reviews are informed by your views. So next year we’ll be organising some opportunities to hear your thoughts on what you’d like to see for breast cancer services in the future.
If you’d like to get involved, please email us at campaigns@breastcancernow.org and someone from the team will get in touch with you.