She was speaking after Enhertu, a drug that can give people with a specific type of breast cancer almost seven extra months to live on average, was made available for doctors to prescribe in England from today (17 September).
 
The drug has also been used in Scotland since 2023, but will not be available to patients in Northern Ireland without action from the Department of Health.
 
Mrs Eastwood said: “Cancer patients in Northern Ireland are regularly being left behind when it comes to access to new drugs and treatment, and Enhertu has now become the latest egregious example in a long list. Clinical evidence has shown that this treatment can extend the life of those with incurable breast cancer for many months and even years, giving them the precious extra time with their loved ones that every person deserves after being diagnosed with this horrible disease.
 
“Alliance has long campaigned for equitable access to cancer treatment in Northern Ireland, because we do not believe that economic and administrative red tape should be allowed to create a postcode lottery of cancer care across the UK.
 
“I have written to Robbie Butler today to make this case again in regard to Enhertu, and I hope he will now set out an urgent timetable for making the treatment available to local patients without further delay.”