What are the 14-day targets for breast cancer referrals in Northern Ireland?

The government target is for patients with suspected breast cancer to be seen by a specialist within 14 days of referral.

Why are breast cancer waiting times high in Northern Ireland?

High waiting times are attributed to the transition to a new regional breast assessment service and digital system implementation, which have caused short-term impacts.

Has treatment start time improved for cancer patients in Northern Ireland?

While the number of patients starting treatment within 31 days has increased, the target of 98% is still not being met. The 62-day target is also significantly missed.

Home / Health / Breast Cancer Referrals Miss 14-Day Target

Breast Cancer Referrals Miss 14-Day Target

15 Jan

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Summary

Only 3.5% of breast cancer referrals met the 14-day target.
Cancer treatment start times fall significantly below government targets.
A new regional service transition impacted waiting times, says minister.

Breast Cancer Referrals Miss 14-Day Target

Between July and September 2025, Northern Ireland saw only 183 out of 5,309 patients referred for suspected breast cancer seen within the government's 14-day target. This represents just 3.5% of urgent referrals, highlighting a critical gap in timely specialist appointments. The Health Minister acknowledged the shortfall, attributing it to the early stages of transitioning to a new regional breast assessment service.

Despite these challenges, improvements have been noted in other areas. From October to December 2025, an additional 928 'red-flag' slots were created, reducing the regional breast assessment waiting list from 12 weeks to just over seven weeks. However, starting first treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral saw only 30% of patients meet the target, far below the 95% goal.

The minister explained that the implementation of the new regional model and the Encompass digital system were expected short-term disruptions. While cancer performance improvements remain a top priority, the figures from July to September 2025 indicate that current processes are still falling short of government targets for both initial consultations and treatment commencement.