‘Fed up of postcode lotteries’ – cancer researcher hits out as Northern Ireland left behind in one-minute treatment jab rollout

Northern Ireland’s cancer patients are being left behind in a ‘postcode lottery’ as a revolutionary new injectable cancer treatment is rolled out across England and Wales, a leading researcher has warned.

Professor Mark Lawler, from Queen’s University Belfast, said he was “fed up talking about postcode lotteries” as the north repeatedly gets left behind other parts of the UK in health advancements.

His comments come after the injectable form of immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab began being rolled out on the NHS in England and Wales from Monday, but not in Northern Ireland.

The new formulation of the drug cuts treatment time by up to 90 per cent, replacing lengthy intravenous infusions with a one-minute injection every three weeks or a two-minute dose every six weeks.

The treatment is used to fight 14 types of cancer, including breast, cervical, lung, and head and neck.

Professor Lawler, who has more than 30 years’ experience in cancer research, said the benefits for patients were transformative.

“Normally a patient would have to sit in a chair for about one and a half to two hours getting an infusion into their vein,” he said.

“With the injectable form, they can be in and out in minutes. It reduces anxiety because it’s done very quickly, and rather than spending one and a half hours per patient, you can do it in a couple of minutes, so you can potentially see more patients.”

Professor Lawler said the failure to extend the rollout to Northern Ireland was inexplicable given the potential benefits to the health system as well as patients.

“It’s not even a new drug that’s never been used in Northern Ireland patients — it’s essentially the same drug, just in a formulation that can now be given as an injection, and that has a huge impact,“ he said.

“I’m guessing the reason is financial as it’s not a capacity issue – it would actually improve capacity and potentially reduce waiting lists, which is obviously one of the things we’re trying to do in Northern Ireland’s health service.”

“If you’re in Bangor in Wales, you can get the drug. If you’re in Bangor in Northern Ireland – you can’t. I’m fed up talking about postcode lotteries when it comes to things like this.”

Professor Lawler offered to engage directly with the Minister for Health to find a solution.

“It’s disappointing when something is so much better not just for the patient but also for the health system,” he said.

“This seems a win-win for everybody — but obviously not for patients in Northern Ireland at the moment.”

The Department of Health has been approached for comment.