Only 3.5% of urgent breast cancer referrals seen within target time

Only 183 patients referred for an urgent appointment with a breast cancer specialist were seen within 14 days between July and September 2025, according to latest figures from the Department of Health (DoH).

That represents 3.5% patients who were referred for suspected breast cancer (5,309) across all five health and social care trusts.

The government's target time for referrals to be seen is 14 days.

The health minister said the figures reflected "an early stage in the transition to our new regional breast assessment service" but added "there is still more to do".

Mike Nesbitt said in a statement that the target time has "never been met" in Northern Ireland which is why a transition to a new system was implemented.

He added that there has been "real progress".

"Between October and December (2025), 928 extra red-flag slots were delivered. The regional breast assessment waiting list reduced from 12 weeks in September to just over seven weeks in mid-December," the statement said.

Only 2,699 patients were seen during the quarter from 6,194 new referrals for suspected breast cancer, of which 85.7% (5,309) were urgent.

The latest figures show from July to September 2025, 1,430 patients in Northern Ireland started their first treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer.

But only 30% (430) of them started treatment within 62 days.

The Department of Health said the number of referrals in waiting time statistics may include duplicates as some patients are transferred between health trusts.

The government's draft waiting-time targets for cancer care services in Northern Ireland stated that this figure should be at least 95%.

Figures showed that in the same quarter, 2,499 (88%) people in Northern Ireland began their first treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat after being urgently referred with a suspected cancer.

That was an increase in the number and percentage of patients starting treatment from the previous quarter, but still fell short of the government's target of 98%.

Nesbitt said the transition to a new service affected the 14 and 62 day cancer referrals being seen between July and September 2025.

"This reflects the early implementation of the regional model and the roll-out of the Encompass digital system," he said.

"These were expected short-term effects. The benefits of reform are long-term."

He added that improving cancer performances remained a top priority.

Cancer Research UK's Director said the figures were unacceptable and called for "concerted action" to address the issues.

"Investment is required, coupled with a clear plan and urgent improvements to boost clinical capacity and ultimately protect patients from harm," Naser Turubi said.