While Northern Ireland's dreadful waiting times are nothing new, the revelation yesterday that 24 children with suspected or confirmed cancer were waiting more than a year to see a consultant is truly shocking.
How can it be possible that a child who may have cancer has to wait months for specialist attention?
What has gone so badly wrong with our health system that a youngster with a potentially life-threatening condition is not being seen as soon as humanly possible, within days ideally?
The data on children with confirmed or suspected cancer is contained in a report by the Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner Koulla Yiasouma, and relates to April this year.
The review also found that 17,000 children and young people were waiting more than a year for a first appointment with a consultant, with 510 waiting over four years.
Some families have been forced to travel abroad to seek treatment for conditions such as scoliosis because of the delays.
While there are detailed figures in respect of hospital care, the picture in relation to community-based services is less clear although based on the limited data available, there were nearly 27,000 children on the waiting list.
The question is why are we in such a dire position?
Dr Ray Nethercott from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that while colleagues 'always go the extra mile' for children, there are too many vacancies and not enough leadership or resources to drive forward improvements.
He pointed to the three-year suspension of the assembly as a period which delayed crucial decisions, and called for stability and a commitment from all political parties to put children and young people at the top of the agenda.
Health minister Robin Swann accepts that the health and care system is letting down a large number of patients in terms of waiting lists and has made this issue a priority.
He disclosed yesterday that there are currently no children regarded as a red flag case waiting in the Belfast trust area.
That is positive news but we clearly need to be doing much more to ensure youngsters are receiving timely support and treatment, should that be in a hospital setting or in accessing a community-based service.
This report from the Children's Commissioner makes 17 recommendations. The test will be if we see those implemented and significant improvements made to waiting times.
Unfortunately, we do not have a good record when it comes to acting on health reviews urging change.
But the present grim situation simply cannot be allowed to continue.
