A coalition of cancer charities gathered at Stormont to highlight the support services available to patients and families across Northern Ireland.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Jemma Dolan attended the event and pointed to the work of SWELL, a Fermanagh-based cancer support charity, as an example of the essential support provided by such organisations.

She said the charities deliver invaluable assistance throughout the cancer journey, from care and emotional support to research and early intervention.

However, Dolan warned that waiting times in the north remain deeply worrying and insisted the ambitions of the regional Cancer Strategy must be met.

She said that a person’s life expectancy should not be determined by where they live, and urged action to address disparities in cancer outcomes, boost screening uptake and guarantee equal access to treatment.