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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Rebecca Black

Petition to stop breast cancer clinics closing in NI handed to No10

Women campaigning to save breast cancer clinics in Northern Ireland left a pink knitted breast at No 10 Downing Street.

Joanne Harris and Hope Graham, of group Knitted Knockers of NI, made the move as they handed in a petition signed by 111,459 people in a bid to stop two breast cancer clinics closing.

Under proposals to streamline services across the five health trusts in Northern Ireland, the number of breast cancer assessment units would be reduced from five to three.

Clinics at both Belfast City Hospital and Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh are under threat.

Ms Harris and Ms Graham handed in the box of petition pages to Downing Street as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was meeting with a group of NHS workers.

Spotting Health Secretary Matt Hancock walking into 10 Downing Street, Ms Harris, of Lurgan, Co Armagh , said: "He better be away to read that petition."

The women also met with DUP MP David Simpson while in London to discuss their concerns.

The public consultations on reshaping stroke and breast assessment care ended on August 30, 2018.

Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly said then that the evidence submitted would be examined.

"I can assure the public that we will be paying close attention to all the issues raised, including the genuine concerns voiced about the proposals for stroke and breast assessment care," he said then.

"It is widely accepted that change is both necessary and unavoidable. The choice is between managing change or letting it happen in an unplanned, chaotic fashion with services becoming increasingly untenable and prone to collapse. Managing change is the only responsible choice to make."

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