One in 20 women seen within two-week target for urgent breast cancer referral

One in 20 women referred urgently for breast cancer were seen within two weeks last winter, figures released by the Department of Health show.

Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt conceded that Northern Ireland was “still some way short” of meeting the 14-day urgent referral target.

From October to December 2025, 3,902 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist after an urgent referral across all five HSC Trusts, 44.6% more than in the previous quarter.

Some 5.5% of those patients were seen within 14 days of an urgent referral for breast cancer, compared with 6.8% in the previous period.

Mr Nesbitt welcomed the work being done to tackle waiting lists but said the department “continues to strive to build on these improvements”.

“I would like to assure the public that the implementation of the regional breast assessment system is delivering positive results for patients,” he said.

“The regional model now ensures patients are offered the earliest available appointment anywhere in Northern Ireland, which is the right approach for cancer care.

“I acknowledge that we are still some way short of the ambitious 14-day target, but I fully expect the long-term position to continue to improve as waiting times fall and the number of patients assessed increases.

“We are seeing positive results from additional weekend and evening clinics.

“Latest performance information shows the current waiting time for a breast assessment is now five weeks and two days, a substantial improvement from the peak waiting time of 12 weeks in September 2025.

“There is more to be done, and I recognise that too many women are still waiting too long for this essential service.

“I am determined to support this work and, earlier this year, announced £5 million recurrent funding under the elective care framework to reform the breast assessment service, implementing a modern consultant-led model supported by skilled practitioners.

“While today’s figures cover a transitional period of reform, they indicate a downward trajectory in waiting times, a sign we are heading in the right direction.”

DUP health spokeswoman Diane Dodds said the figures reinforced the need for a clear action plan from the Department of Health.

“Northern Ireland has the worst cancer waiting times anywhere in the United Kingdom and the figures are not improving,” she said.

“Whilst there has been a focus on the increase in the number of patients seen by a breast cancer specialist in the last quarter, that cannot mask the reality that only 5.5% of patients were seen within 14 days of their urgent referral.

“This figure is lower than in the previous quarter and it should never be forgotten that the target for a 14-day referral is 100% of patients.

“This is not a new problem. It hasn’t arisen just in the last few months, but it is a constant reminder of the need for a clear and targeted action plan.

“We cannot allow figures like these to continue.”

The statistics also showed that in the last quarter of 2025, 90.1% of patients started treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat.

Also in this period 29.5% of patients with an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer started treatment within the recommended 62 days, compared with 30.1% in the previous quarter.