Thousands of women in Northern Ireland are waiting months for breast screening, it was revealed today.
Assemblyman Patsy McGlone said around 7,000 people in the North were queuing up to 16 months for the mobile checking service for cancer and other abnormalities.
Mr McGlone warned delay could put lives at risk. "Breast screening for many is potentially life saving as it detects cancer at a very early stage," he said.
"Expecting any woman to wait 16 months for this service is unacceptable and disgraceful." Another 7,000 cases were stalled for eight months in the eastern board area, which includes Belfast.
The problem was revealed by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey following an Assembly question by Mr McGlone. The Minister said delays would reduce to eight months by October in the northern board. The western and southern areas had no holding list, according to last month's response.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the country and accounts for almost one in three of all cancers in women. Mr McGlone added: "To think there are approximately 14,000 women faced with waiting many months for this essential service is a disgrace.
"There is also massive and unfair inconsistency in provision, because there are no waiting lists at all in the Southern and Western board areas."
Funding has been handed to the Northern Health Trust, which provides services, to purchase a second mobile screening unit.
Mid-Ulster representative Mr McGlone added: "We cannot allow a situation where people are being made to wait months for essential medical care and treatment simply because of the where they live."