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A petition has been launched calling on the Stormont Executive to bring life-saving cancer treatment to Northern Ireland. The petition follows the death of a Ballymoyer mother of three in 2025.
Catherine Sherry was diagnosed with lymphoma in September 2024 at just 42 and had to leave her three young sons and family circle to travel to London for CAR T-cell therapy. The treatment wasn't available here and even though it was available just an hour down the road in Dublin, she wasn't allowed to access it. Sadly she died in May 2025 at King’s College Hospital, London, while recovering from the treatment.
Before travelling to London, Sherry began a campaign to change this, determined that no one else should have to leave their family to receive treatment in England.
The petition follows on from this and calls on the Stormont Executive to 'Bring Life-Saving Cancer Treatment to Northern Ireland'
It states: "Travelling to England inevitably delays access to treatment while travel arrangements and hospital beds are organised. Forcing immunosuppressed cancer patients to travel on airlines and through busy airport terminals increases the risk of infections and the potential complications of blood clots associated with air travel. This repeated travel adds significant physical and emotional strain on patients and their families at an already difficult time. However, the greatest anguish remains the distance from loved ones at the moment when their support is needed most."
The petition calls on the Northern Ireland Executive to promptly commission CAR‑T services closer to home and to immediately begin negotiations with the Irish Government to establish all‑island access to CAR‑T cancer treatment now.
Sign the petition at www.change.org and help ensure Northern Ireland cancer patients can receive life‑saving CAR‑T therapy here without being forced to travel to England.
