Celebrating the launch of The Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition

We’re delighted to announce our membership of the newly launched Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition (NICCC) which aims to improve services and outcomes for cancer patients in Northern Ireland. Through our partnership we’ll champion the voices of those affected by bowel cancer.

The NICCC is a partnership of organisations with a shared vision of developing and improving cancer services in Northern Ireland. The coalition will support those living with cancer and ensure that world class services are available in the country.

The creation of the group comes after the return of Stormont and brings Northern Ireland in line with other UK nations, who all have similar coalitions of cancer charities to advocate for patients.

We’ve called for an urgent improvement to bowel cancer services in Northern Ireland and through our membership in the NICCC we'll continue to advocate for this. We'll urge Stormont to implement the recommendations of the NI Cancer strategy, which have not been actioned due to the lack of funding.

The aims of the coalition include:

• Improve services, outcomes, and support for cancer patients in Northern Ireland
• Promote research into cancer services and prevention
• Influence the priorities, policies, and strategies of the Northern Ireland Assembly
• Advocate for the implementation of the Northern Ireland Cancer Strategy

Gerard McMahon, Head of Policy & Influencing (Devolved Nations) at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We’re thrilled to be a member of the newly launched Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition (NICCC), it’s fantastic to see these organisations come together to work towards improving the country’s cancer services.

“For the last two years we’ve been campaigning alongside others for the return of Stormont to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland. Now that it’s back up and running, we’re committed to ensuring that the promises of the NI Cancer Strategy are fulfilled to improve earlier diagnosis and awareness of cancer. The NICCC gives us a united voice to hold the Government to account on this, and push for a commitment to tackle top line issues impacting the cancer landscape.

“In the group we’ll make sure bowel cancer is on the agenda and will continue to fight for a commitment to lower the bowel cancer screening age from 60 to 50. We’ll also push for an improvement to Lynch syndrome surveillance, and investment to grow the workforce to tackle the worst ever waiting times on record faced by suspected bowel cancer patients.”

• Learn more about our work in Northern Ireland
• Read more about our campaign on ending the capacity crisis in NHS bowel cancer diagnostic services
• Read our five-year strategy that aims to ensure more people are diagnosed at the earliest stages when the disease is easier to treat

Above: Gerard and George from our Policy and Influencing team at our stall at the NICCC launch event.