Chemo put off for bank and public hols

Mr Poots explained: “Where clinics fall on a Bank Holiday patients are generally treated the following week, or on a different day in the same week depending on the urgency and type of treatment.”

He went on to say that chemotherapy is generally delivered in an outpatient setting and that the treatment is “delivered on a cyclical basis.”

The Minister also said that “patients receive treatment at fixed intervals according to the toxicities of the drugs used.”

He concluded: “As part of the Northern Ireland Cancer Network the Health and Social Care Trusts are committed to continually reviewing their service model to include consideration of alternative arrangements to support the rescheduling of treatments which may fall on public holidays.”

East Londonderry MLA Cathal Ó hOisín asked the Minister if chemotherapy appointments were being put off due to bank or public holidays by way of a Written Assembly Question at Stormont.