People from ethnic backgrounds in Northern Ireland believe their cancer diagnoses are being delayed due to communication breakdowns in the healthcare system. Israel Eguaogie, representing iAssist-NI, is advocating for nine individuals who feel their access to healthcare has been hindered by factors such as language barriers, skin color, and religion. Some patients are now facing terminal illnesses due to delays in detecting cancer spread. The Department of Health acknowledges these challenges despite existing support measures. Suha Ahmed, one of the affected individuals, shared that it took nine months to receive a diagnosis, by which time her cancer had spread and become untreatable.
How can the healthcare system better address communication barriers to ensure timely diagnoses for everyone, regardless of their background?