Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health, given that the most recent official statistics data currently available from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry is from 2022, to detail how the Public Health Agency (i) investigate; and (ii) respond to, reports of more recent incidences of geographically concentrated rises in childhood cancers.
Minister of Health: When concerns regarding cancer occurrence or incidence are raised by members of the public or healthcare professionals, the Public Health Agency (PHA) engages with the relevant party to determine the basis of the concern, the circumstances in which it arose, and to define the scope of the issue as a foundation for any investigation and formal data analysis.
The PHA collaborates with the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) to utilise routinely available data in order to determine incidences of specific cancers, including any year-to-year variations. Consideration is also given to demographic factors and population changes, such as overall population size and age distribution, as these variables influence cancer rates within a population.
When comparing cancer incidence across different geographic areas, population groups, or time periods, it is essential to apply consistent methodologies to quality-assured data from each source. This ensures alignment with historical data and enables valid comparisons with other regions beyond the immediate scope of concern. Selective data collection may introduce bias and distort comparisons.
The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry produces the official cancer statistics for Northern Ireland and undertakes rigorous processes to ensure that all cancer cases are accurately recorded and categorised by type, incidence, and stage. Consequently, there is an inherent delay between diagnosis and inclusion in the official registry statistics.
ENDS
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