More than seven in 10 cancer patients miss 62-day treatment target in Northern Ireland

More than seven in 10 cancer patients urgently referred by their GP in Northern Ireland waited longer than the 62-day target to begin treatment, according to the latest figures.

Department of Health statistics for April to June 2026 show 1,459 patients began their first definitive cancer treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer.

Just 414 patients — 28.4% — began treatment within 62 days, meaning 71.6% did not meet the target.

The performance deteriorated from the previous quarter, when 29.6% of patients began treatment within 62 days, and remains significantly below the draft target of at least 95%.

Breast cancer target met for just 6.2% of patients

The figures also show significant pressures facing patients urgently referred with suspected breast cancer.

Across Northern Ireland’s five Health and Social Care Trusts, 3,830 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral during the quarter.

Only 239 — 6.2% — were seen within the 14-day target.

That compares with 7.9% during the previous quarter and falls considerably short of the target that all urgent breast cancer referrals should be seen within 14 days.

Health and Social Care Trusts received 6,338 referrals for suspected breast cancer during the quarter, of which 5,407 — 85.3% — were classified as urgent.

Some improvement in 31-day treatment target

There was better news for patients measured from the point at which a decision to treat had been made.

A total of 3,039 patients began their first definitive cancer treatment following a decision to treat during the quarter.

Of those, 2,697 — 88.7% — started treatment within 31 days.

That represented an improvement from 87.3% during the previous quarter, although performance remained below the draft target of at least 98%.

Minister says waiting times are ‘not acceptable’

Health Minister Robbie Butler subsequently responded to the figures, acknowledging that the overall position on cancer waiting times was not acceptable.

He said every statistic represented a patient waiting for answers and a family dealing with uncertainty.

Butler said there had been progress in some areas, pointing in particular to breast cancer waiting times.

The median breast cancer wait fell from 56 days in September 2025 to 38 days in June 2026.

The Minister said £5 million had been invested through the Elective Care Framework, while a regional Breast Operational Delivery Network had been established and additional clinic capacity was being used to tackle the backlog.

He said further improvement would require “consistent leadership and relentless focus”.

Investment targeted at cancer services

The Minister said Programme for Government funding was being directed towards reducing waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment through the Elective Care Framework.

Investment is being made in areas including endoscopy, imaging, phlebotomy, workforce and a number of medical specialties.

The Department is also carrying out structured reviews of cancer pathways, with the aim of improving services through regional working, shared learning and increased accountability.

Butler said there remained “much more to do” and that he wanted to examine opportunities to accelerate improvements.

Cancer charities call for urgent action

Cancer charities have also responded to the latest figures.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland said it was deeply concerning that more than 70% of people urgently referred by their GP did not begin treatment within the 62-day target.

The charity said lengthy waits added further anxiety and uncertainty for patients and families already dealing with the impact of cancer.

It called for sustained political leadership, investment and long-term action to increase capacity and support the health service workforce.

Cancer Research UK has separately warned that, if current performance continues, around 20,000 people could miss the 62-day cancer treatment target over the next five years.

The charity’s analysis found that all five Health and Social Care Trusts missed the 62-day standard during the latest quarter.

Patient waited 102 days for treatment

Cancer Research UK has highlighted the experience of Newry mother-of-two Claire Little as an example of the impact lengthy waits can have on patients.

Little, 49, visited her GP in November 2025 after discovering a lump in her breast and was urgently referred for further investigation.

She was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer and began chemotherapy in February — 102 days after first visiting her GP.

Little described the wait for treatment as agonising and said the uncertainty left her feeling helpless.

Cancer Research UK said her experience demonstrated the impact delays can have on patients and their families while they wait for diagnosis and treatment.

Department cautions over comparisons

The Department of Health has cautioned that some of the latest statistics are sourced from the encompass electronic patient record system and are classed as “official statistics in development”.

Figures collected through encompass are not directly comparable with information gathered through the previous systems, although the Department considers them sufficiently robust for publication and use.

Data relating to the 31-day and 62-day cancer waiting-time targets have also been revised for quarters between December 2023 and March 2026.

The Department said work to improve cancer pathways would continue as part of the wider Elective Care Framework.

Official figures: Northern Ireland Cancer Waiting Time Statistics – Department of Health

More information: Cancer waiting times – Department of Health