Today's Cancer Waiting Time Figures Reflect an Early Stage in the
Transition to Our New Regional Breast Assessment Service. While
There Is Still More to Do, the Progress Since Then Shows That
Reform Was Necessary, That It Was the Right Decision, and That It
Is Already Delivering Results.
The Figures Published Today Relate to July to September 2025, the
First Quarter in Which All Five Trusts Moved Onto the New
Regional System. This Early Transition Period Had a Short-term
Impact on Performance, Including the 6.8% Of Urgent Breast
Patients Seen Within 14 Days. That Figure Does Not Reflect the
Improvements That Have Followed, nor the Reasons Why Change Was
Required.
The 14 Day Breast Target Has Never Been Consistently Met in
Northern Ireland and Performance Was Deteriorating Before the
Regional Move. Without Intervention, the Service Was Becoming
less Equitable and less Sustainable.
Since the End of the Reporting Period There Has Been Very Real
Progress. In October I Introduced a Regional Waiting List
Initiative to Fund Additional Evening and Weekend Clinics.
Between October and December, 928 Extra Red-flag Slots Were
Delivered. The Regional Breast Assessment Waiting List Reduced
from 12 Weeks in September to Just over 7 Weeks in Mid-december.
Further Additional Clinics Have Also Already Been Delivered This
Month to Offset the Impact of a Brief Late December Reduction in
Capacity. Whilst I Absolutely Acknowledge That Too Many Women Are
Still Waiting for Too Long, I Want to Reassure the Public That
the Latest Position Is Much Improved Compared to Where It Was
Last Year. I Also Expect It to Continue to Improve in the Time
Ahead with the Current Average Waiting Times Falling Further.
The Regional Booking System Was Introduced to Address Serious
Inequity of Access. Previously, the Likelihood of Being Seen
Within 14 Days Depended on Where You Lived. Before Reform, One
Trust Was Achieving 92.9% While Another Was at 3.8%. That
Postcode Lottery Was Not Acceptable and It Was Not Equitable. The
Regional Model Now Ensures Patients Are Offered the Earliest
Available Appointment Anywhere in Northern Ireland, Which Is the
Right Approach for Cancer Care.
The Review Also Identified a Structural Shortfall of Around 3,900
Patients per Year Driven by Rising Referrals and Workforce
Pressures, Including in Radiology. No Trust Could Meet Demand on
Its Own. Regional Working Allows Capacity to Be Pooled and
Investment Targeted Where It Makes the Most Difference. We Are
Now Working with Nhs Scotland to Implement a Modern
Consultant-led Model Supported by a Maximised Skill Mix. I Have
Allocated M Recurrent Funding to Support This Work.
I Acknowledge That 14 Day and 62 Day Performance Dipped During
the Transition Period. This Reflects the Early Implementation of
the Regional Model and the Roll-out of the Encompass Digital
System. These Were Expected Short-term Effects. The Benefits of
Reform Are Long-term.
Improving Cancer Performance Remains a Top Priority. Through the
Elective Care Framework We Are Investing in Red-flag and
Time-critical Capacity, Expanding Rapid Diagnosis Centres,
Increasing Imaging Capacity, and Exploring Targeted Insourcing
Including Support from Nhs Forth Valley. This Is Backed by the
2022 Cancer Strategy, Which Sets the Pathway for Long-term
Improvement.
I Can Assure Everyone That Collectively We Are Doing Everything
We Can to Address This Situation with Straight to Test Pathways
and Learning from Colleagues Throughout the Uk in the Delivery of
a Red Flag Triple Assessment Service.
I Recognise the Anxiety That Delays Cause for Patients and
Families. While Today's Figures Cover an Early Transitional
Period, the Progress Since Then Shows That Reform Was Necessary.
