03/07/2025
NI Cancer Waiting Times Statistics Published
The Department of Health today, Thursday, 3 July 2025, published Accredited Official Statistics on cancer waiting times for the quarter ending March 2025. The data details the waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospitals across Northern Ireland during January, February, and March of this year.
The report notes that data comparability is currently affected by the ongoing rollout of 'encompass' - a new electronic patient record system. 'encompass' went live in the South Eastern Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust on 9 November 2023, followed by Belfast Trust on 6 June 2024, Northern Trust on 7 November 2024, and most recently, Southern and Western Trusts on 8 May 2025. Data from 'encompass' is considered 'official statistics in development,' meaning caution should be exercised when making direct comparisons with previous data.
Key Figures for January - March 2025:
Waiting times for first definitive treatment following a decision to treat (31-day target):
• Of the 2,482 patients who started treatment after a decision to treat, 88.2% (2,190 patients) began treatment within 31 days.
• While this percentage increased from 87.5% in the previous quarter and 86.6% in the same quarter last year, the regional target for this category was not achieved.
• The total number of patients starting treatment decreased by 15.6% (458) compared to the previous quarter, and by 14.7% (429) from the same quarter last year.
Waiting times for first definitive treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer (62-day target):
• Only 33.9% (428 patients) of the 1,261 patients who started treatment after an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer did so within 62 days.
• This percentage represents a slight decrease from 34.2% in the previous quarter but an increase from 31.4% in the same quarter last year. The target for this measure was not met at a regional level.
• The number of patients treated decreased by 12.7% (184) from the last quarter and by 9.2% (128) compared to the same quarter last year.
Patients first seen following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer (14-day target):
• Out of 3,329 patients seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral, 30.4% (1,013 patients) were seen within 14 days.
• This percentage decreased from 31.7% in the previous quarter and also saw a decrease from 34.1% in the same quarter last year, falling short of the 14-day target.
• The total number of patients seen decreased by 5.2% (183) from the last quarter and by 7.7% (276) from the same quarter last year.
Referrals for suspect breast cancer:
• A total of 6,115 referrals for suspect breast cancer were received by HSC Trusts during the quarter, with 83.5% (5,106) classified as urgent.
The Department of Health noted that target data for the HSC Trusts have been revised due to the ongoing development and evaluation of data sourced from the 'encompass' system.
The report notes that data comparability is currently affected by the ongoing rollout of 'encompass' - a new electronic patient record system. 'encompass' went live in the South Eastern Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust on 9 November 2023, followed by Belfast Trust on 6 June 2024, Northern Trust on 7 November 2024, and most recently, Southern and Western Trusts on 8 May 2025. Data from 'encompass' is considered 'official statistics in development,' meaning caution should be exercised when making direct comparisons with previous data.
Key Figures for January - March 2025:
Waiting times for first definitive treatment following a decision to treat (31-day target):
• Of the 2,482 patients who started treatment after a decision to treat, 88.2% (2,190 patients) began treatment within 31 days.
• While this percentage increased from 87.5% in the previous quarter and 86.6% in the same quarter last year, the regional target for this category was not achieved.
• The total number of patients starting treatment decreased by 15.6% (458) compared to the previous quarter, and by 14.7% (429) from the same quarter last year.
Waiting times for first definitive treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer (62-day target):
• Only 33.9% (428 patients) of the 1,261 patients who started treatment after an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer did so within 62 days.
• This percentage represents a slight decrease from 34.2% in the previous quarter but an increase from 31.4% in the same quarter last year. The target for this measure was not met at a regional level.
• The number of patients treated decreased by 12.7% (184) from the last quarter and by 9.2% (128) compared to the same quarter last year.
Patients first seen following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer (14-day target):
• Out of 3,329 patients seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral, 30.4% (1,013 patients) were seen within 14 days.
• This percentage decreased from 31.7% in the previous quarter and also saw a decrease from 34.1% in the same quarter last year, falling short of the 14-day target.
• The total number of patients seen decreased by 5.2% (183) from the last quarter and by 7.7% (276) from the same quarter last year.
Referrals for suspect breast cancer:
• A total of 6,115 referrals for suspect breast cancer were received by HSC Trusts during the quarter, with 83.5% (5,106) classified as urgent.
The Department of Health noted that target data for the HSC Trusts have been revised due to the ongoing development and evaluation of data sourced from the 'encompass' system.
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
17 April 2013
Construction Output Drops In Q4
Construction output from October to December last year was down 5.8% on the same period in 2011, according to the latest Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin.
Construction Output Drops In Q4
Construction output from October to December last year was down 5.8% on the same period in 2011, according to the latest Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin.
27 February 2012
NI Sees Increase In House Purchase Loans
Northern Ireland was the only area of the UK to experience an increase in house purchase loans in the final quarter of 2011, according to new figures released today from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 house purchase loans, worth £240 million, increased 4% by number and value from the third quarter of the year.
NI Sees Increase In House Purchase Loans
Northern Ireland was the only area of the UK to experience an increase in house purchase loans in the final quarter of 2011, according to new figures released today from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 house purchase loans, worth £240 million, increased 4% by number and value from the third quarter of the year.
25 March 2010
Summit Tackles Belfast Infrastructure
A two-day conference launched by NI Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie is this week bringing together local and international business, community and political leaders.
Summit Tackles Belfast Infrastructure
A two-day conference launched by NI Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie is this week bringing together local and international business, community and political leaders.
31 March 2011
NI Misses Cancer Treatment Targets
Northern Ireland's hospitals have failed to meet target times for the treatment of patients referred for suspected cancer, a new report by the Department of Health revealed. Its guidelines say 95% of patients should begin their treatment within 62 days. Last December however, the figure stood at 81%, which was the third monthly fall in a row.
NI Misses Cancer Treatment Targets
Northern Ireland's hospitals have failed to meet target times for the treatment of patients referred for suspected cancer, a new report by the Department of Health revealed. Its guidelines say 95% of patients should begin their treatment within 62 days. Last December however, the figure stood at 81%, which was the third monthly fall in a row.
27 September 2024
Alliance Health Spokesperson Criticises Cancer Waiting List Delays
Nuala McAllister, a spokesperson for the Alliance Party's health portfolio, has expressed deep concern over the latest cancer waiting list times in Northern Ireland. She emphasised that health transformation is essential for reducing delays and ensuring patients receive timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Alliance Health Spokesperson Criticises Cancer Waiting List Delays
Nuala McAllister, a spokesperson for the Alliance Party's health portfolio, has expressed deep concern over the latest cancer waiting list times in Northern Ireland. She emphasised that health transformation is essential for reducing delays and ensuring patients receive timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.