Plans to reduce this funding gap included a possible reduction in waiting times initiatives which would have a severe impact on patients already waiting too long for a diagnosis and care.
We’ve responded to this annoucement as part of the The Long Term Conditions Alliance Northern Ireland (LTCANI), a coalition of voluntary and not for profit organisations that work with and for people with long term health conditions.
We raised concerns that waiting times in Northern Ireland already lag behind the rest of the UK. Over half (52%) of patients wait over 26 weeks for a colonoscopy, a key diagnostic test for Crohn's and Colitis. Cuts to waiting list initiatives will further delay the diagnosis of these conditions and have an unacceptable impact on people’s quality of life and their ability to live well.
The Alliance also wrote to Peter May Department of Health Northern Ireland Permanent Secretary who has agreed to meet to discuss these issues in September. We will be attending this meeting to represent people living with Crohn’s and Colitis and will keep you updated.
