MLAs slam chemo delays: ‘Absurd if children are forced to leave NI for cancer treatment'
Upper Bann MLA and health spokesperson Diane Dodds warned that children with cancer are having potentially life-saving treatments delayed because of 'poor staff management' within the trust.
'I appreciate that people can take off at short notice in unexpected circumstances but rosters and those in charge need to be able to accommodate that. There should never be a majority of a critical specialist group of staff like this off work at the same time,' she said.
'Staff within our Health Service are its greatest asset and I know how much the families of those undergoing cancer treatment value the chemotherapy nurses.
'Those nurses like anyone else, deserve time off and will face illness or other issues which necessitate unplanned absence. These are issues which are not only foreseeable, but which needs to be built into the management of any rota.'
BBC News NI reported that around five children have been affected with one child having their treatment delayed by five days.
The Belfast Trust said it was working hard to ensure "adequate and safe staffing levels" at the haematology and oncology departments within the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, and confirmed that no child has had to go outside NI to receive treatment.
A member of staff told the BBC that problems were not being addressed by senior management.
But health chiefs blamed the temporary decrease of chemotherapy-trained nurses on 'planned and unplanned absences' while insisting that posts are were fully recruited.
'Currently seven out of twelve nurses are absent and the service is working hard to review all the nursing roles within the wider haematology and oncology departments to help cover the service and protect the most time critical treatments,' the Belfast Trust added.
Mrs Dodds added: 'It would be absurd if children were forced to travel outside Northern Ireland for these treatments because the management of staff within the service had not been properly planned.
'Earlier this year I tabled questions to the Minister about shortages of chemotherapy staff after being contacted by health professionals concerned at the numbers available to provide cancer therapies, and that treatments were having to be carried out in unsuitable environments.
'This was in relation to the Cancer Centre and Belfast City Hospital site. I remain interested in the progress with the Haematology Workforce Review and in recruiting additional staff trained in chemotherapy.'
News Catch Up - Thursday 7th August
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath said there is 'understandably' serious concern about 'a lack of staff'.
'This must be incredibly difficult for these children and their families, finding out at short notice that treatment had been briefly postponed,' he added.
'Any cancer journey is difficult, but this will add extra worry and frustration at an already very challenging time.
'Staff absences, planned and unplanned, happen everywhere and they have to be managed, but we should not be finding ourselves in a position where cancer treatment cannot go ahead as a result.
'I accept the pressure staff are under, but there should be systems and backup plans in place to ensure we never find ourselves in the position we're in today.
'I have contacted the Health Minister to ask what steps are being taken to get these children treatment, what support is in place for staff and what he is doing to ensure that this never happens again.
'This is yet another example of a health service at breaking point, and these children and their families are suffering as a result.'
The Belfast Trust said the 'safety and delivery of timely treatment is and will remain our highest priority' for children in its care.
"The trust is actively working to improve the situation and staffing and service delivery is being closely monitored on a daily basis to ensure adequate and safe staffing levels,' it added.
'As a result, the Clinical Nurse Specialists are now also providing additional support to assist with care delivery on the ward.'
The Department of Health has been contacted.
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Belfast Telegraph
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MLAs slam chemo delays: ‘Absurd if children are forced to leave NI for cancer treatment'
The DUP has questioned how the trust 'allowed the situation to develop', while the SDLP has urged Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to address the nursing shortage. Upper Bann MLA and health spokesperson Diane Dodds warned that children with cancer are having potentially life-saving treatments delayed because of 'poor staff management' within the trust. 'I appreciate that people can take off at short notice in unexpected circumstances but rosters and those in charge need to be able to accommodate that. There should never be a majority of a critical specialist group of staff like this off work at the same time,' she said. 'Staff within our Health Service are its greatest asset and I know how much the families of those undergoing cancer treatment value the chemotherapy nurses. 'Those nurses like anyone else, deserve time off and will face illness or other issues which necessitate unplanned absence. These are issues which are not only foreseeable, but which needs to be built into the management of any rota.' BBC News NI reported that around five children have been affected with one child having their treatment delayed by five days. The Belfast Trust said it was working hard to ensure "adequate and safe staffing levels" at the haematology and oncology departments within the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, and confirmed that no child has had to go outside NI to receive treatment. A member of staff told the BBC that problems were not being addressed by senior management. But health chiefs blamed the temporary decrease of chemotherapy-trained nurses on 'planned and unplanned absences' while insisting that posts are were fully recruited. 'Currently seven out of twelve nurses are absent and the service is working hard to review all the nursing roles within the wider haematology and oncology departments to help cover the service and protect the most time critical treatments,' the Belfast Trust added. Mrs Dodds added: 'It would be absurd if children were forced to travel outside Northern Ireland for these treatments because the management of staff within the service had not been properly planned. 'Earlier this year I tabled questions to the Minister about shortages of chemotherapy staff after being contacted by health professionals concerned at the numbers available to provide cancer therapies, and that treatments were having to be carried out in unsuitable environments. 'This was in relation to the Cancer Centre and Belfast City Hospital site. I remain interested in the progress with the Haematology Workforce Review and in recruiting additional staff trained in chemotherapy.' News Catch Up - Thursday 7th August SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath said there is 'understandably' serious concern about 'a lack of staff'. 'This must be incredibly difficult for these children and their families, finding out at short notice that treatment had been briefly postponed,' he added. 'Any cancer journey is difficult, but this will add extra worry and frustration at an already very challenging time. 'Staff absences, planned and unplanned, happen everywhere and they have to be managed, but we should not be finding ourselves in a position where cancer treatment cannot go ahead as a result. 'I accept the pressure staff are under, but there should be systems and backup plans in place to ensure we never find ourselves in the position we're in today. 'I have contacted the Health Minister to ask what steps are being taken to get these children treatment, what support is in place for staff and what he is doing to ensure that this never happens again. 'This is yet another example of a health service at breaking point, and these children and their families are suffering as a result.' The Belfast Trust said the 'safety and delivery of timely treatment is and will remain our highest priority' for children in its care. "The trust is actively working to improve the situation and staffing and service delivery is being closely monitored on a daily basis to ensure adequate and safe staffing levels,' it added. 'As a result, the Clinical Nurse Specialists are now also providing additional support to assist with care delivery on the ward.' The Department of Health has been contacted.
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