Publication of Northern Ireland Cancer Waiting Time Statistics: January to March 2026

1. All statistical publications relating to cancer waiting times are available online at: www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/cancer-waiting-times

2. About the data:

Data for the South Eastern HSC Trust from 9 November 2023 onwards are sourced from the encompass electronic patient record system. The system also went live in Belfast HSC Trust on 6 June 2024, in Northern HSC Trust on 7 November 2024, and in Southern and Western HSC Trusts on 8 May 2025.

Figures sourced from encompass are considered to be ‘official statistics in development’, which are a subset of Official Statistics in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. While caution must be exercised when using these figures and they are not directly comparable with legacy (pre-encompass) data, they are a meaningful representation of what they measure and are of sufficient quality for publication and use.

Data used to report on the 31- and 62-day targets were formerly sourced from the Cancer Patient Pathway System (CaPPS), the data system used to administer cancer treatment services within HSC Trusts.

Data used to report on the breast cancer activity and referrals were formerly sourced from the Patient Administration System (PAS), an administrative system used to manage, record, and monitor hospital waiting lists within HSC Trusts.

3. Targets for cancer waiting times

The draft waiting times targets for cancer state that:

• At least 98% of patients diagnosed with cancer should begin their first definitive treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat.
• At least 95% of patients should begin their first definitive treatment for cancer within 62 days of an urgent General Practitioner (GP) referral for suspect cancer.
• All urgent breast cancer referrals should be seen within 14 days.

3. Waiting times for treatment following a decision to treat for cancer (31-day target)

These data relate to all patients who received a first definitive treatment for cancer during each of the three months covered by the publication, irrespective of their source or type of referral.

This is measured from the date on which the patient and the clinician agree the planned treatment and ends on the date the patient receives their first definitive treatment for cancer. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling or self-deferring treatment or because of suspension for either medical or social reasons.

4. Waiting times for treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer (62‑day target)

These data relate to patients who received a first definitive treatment for cancer during each of the three months covered in the publication, following an urgent referral for suspect cancer from a GP or a routine GP referral that has subsequently been reclassified as urgent by a cancer specialist. Referrals from sources other than a GP, routine referrals and patients who have not been given an ICD‑10 diagnosis are excluded.

This is measured from the date an initial urgent GP referral for suspect cancer is received by the HSC Trust and ends on the date the patient receives their first definitive treatment for cancer. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling or self-deferring treatment or because of suspension for either medical or social reasons.

The measurement of a patient’s waiting time against the 62-day target includes cases in which a patient was initially referred to one Trust for consultant assessment but was then subsequently transferred to another Trust for treatment. In such cases, the responsibility for that patient is shared, with 0.5 allocated to the Trust where the patient was first assessed and 0.5 to the Trust of first treatment.

5. Patients first seen following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer (14‑day target)

These data relate to urgent referrals for suspect breast cancer that were first seen during each of the three months covered in the publication, irrespective of the source of referral. Figures include routine referrals that have subsequently been reclassified by a breast specialist as urgent and exclude urgent referrals reclassified as routine.

The waiting time is measured from the date an initial breast cancer referral is first received by the HSC Trust and ends on the date that the patient attends their first outpatient appointment with a breast cancer specialist. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling, self-deferring or failing to attend a first outpatient appointment.

6. Number of referrals for suspect breast cancer

These data refer to all new referrals received for suspect breast cancer irrespective of the source or urgency of referral. Referrals for suspect breast cancer can be for advice, assessment, or both.

Adding the number of referrals for suspect breast cancer at each HSC Trust to give a total for Northern Ireland may inflate the true demand on the service regionally, as referrals transferred from one Trust to another create duplicate referrals.

7. This information is provided by Hospital Waits Information Branch, Department of Health. Further information is available from:
Hospital Waits Information Branch
Department of Health
Annexe 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont
BT4 3SQ.
Telephone: 028 9076 5725
e-mail: Statistics@health-ni.gov.uk
Internet: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/doh-statistics-and-research

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