South Down MP Margaret Ritchie is calling for the provision of improved Pathology Services in Northern Ireland.
Ms Ritchie has asked the Ministers for Justice and Health to make known the plans and strategies their Departments will put in place to ensure that funding and recruitment exercises are put in place for improved Pathology Services in Northern Ireland.
She said: “It has been brought to my attention, that there is a serious lack of Pathologists and Pathology Services in Northern Ireland. The number of requests for Pathology services has and continues to increase whilst being associated with a widening gap on the workforce capacity.
“The NI Pathology Network has identified a gap in the existing workforce and as of last October, there are still some unfilled positions due to a limited number of Pathologists. This situation is being addressed in some ways by the Network as they try to reconfigure the existing model through redefining work force roles and the increased use of new technologies.
“I have been advised from my correspondence with the Royal College of Pathologists, that Pathology staff numbers here are not growing to meet the rising demand for Pathology Services. These Services include testing for conditions such as cancer. This includes a growth in the number of people living with and beyond cancer often with multiple comorbidities requiring ongoing treatment and care”.
“I understand currently Cellular Pathology services within the Health and Social Care Board are delivered for the region by the four Health Trusts. These services support discussion on diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients at all of the regions Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Meetings”.
Ms Ritchie added: “As such, Northern Ireland is facing challenges with regards to current Pathology Services here. We need to ensure that there is adequate Pathologists and Pathology Staff within our Health Trusts, in order that service delivery to patients is improved.”
