MORE 'red flag' cancer patients could have surgery as early as next week under a new regional approach to treatment stalled by pandemic pressures.
A number of health trusts were forced to cancel surgeries as coronavirus in-patient care numbers peaked - with 275 people having operations cancelled in one week.
The BBC reported that the new plan will target patients who do not require either high dependency or critical care beds post-surgery - including urology, breast, head, neck and colon cancers.
This will see people being asked to travel outside their local health trust area for treatment.
It was also reported that next month the health service "will have access to 60 operating sessions in Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast for cancer surgery or diagnostics, as well as facilities for up to 25 outpatient procedures".
All "will be either red-flag cancer or category one and category two urgent surgery", with private healthcare facilities at the North West Independent Hospital in Ballykelly, Co Derry, and the Ulster Independent Clinic in Belfast also be used.
The Department of Health said it expects "independent sector capacity will be required for the foreseeable future", even once the pandemic has passed.
The Irish News reported this week that Kingsbridge hospital was doing more than 200 extra NHS sessions over the next weeks as it seeks to ensure urgent cancer surgery is carried out.
