Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional funding to the Northern Ireland Executive for reducing the backlog in treatment of cancer patients.

The Government recognise the dedication and resolve of staff across the health and social care systems who have shown real determination to provide the best care possible to their patients during this challenging time.

The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically altered the functions of hospitals and as such the focus has led to a serious impact on waiting lists.

The lack of a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland in previous years, coupled with the impact on the health and social care system from the pandemic, exacerbated the need for the urgent reform of services. As a result, the Rebuilding Health & Social Care Strategic Framework was published by Minister Swann on 9 June. In addition to this, Minister Swann announced the launch of a new Covid-19 Surge Planning Strategic Framework for Northern Ireland on 6 October. One of the key initiatives in the framework is the establishment of a regional cancer reset cell to oversee the resumption of screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients in clinically safe environments as quickly as possible, and to protect these services as much as possible in the event of further potential surges of Covid-19

Beyond this, under the New Decade, New Approach deal, the Executive will introduce a new action plan on waiting times. The UK Government committed £2 billion over five years to facilitate NDNA commitments, which includes around £245m to support the transformation of public services, and £200 million over three years to deliver pay parity. The deal also responds to the increasing demand for doctors in Northern Ireland, providing £60m of capital and resource funding to deliver a Northern Ireland Graduate Entry Medical School in Derry/Londonderry, which has now been approved by the Executive.

Recognising the pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Government has provided the Northern Ireland Executive with a guaranteed £2.4billion in additional funding. The allocation of this funding within the health budget is a matter for the Executive.