The latest cancer waiting time statistics in Northern Ireland have sent shockwaves through the healthcare community, patients, and advocacy groups alike. For the quarter ending June 2025, only one third of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer—those considered 'red-flagged'—began treatment within the 62-day target set by the Department of Health, according to the official bulletin published on October 2, 2025. Out of 1,239 patients in this category, just 403 (32.5%) started their treatment within the prescribed window. This marks a decrease from the previous quarter's already troubling figure of 33.9%, and represents a 1.7% decline in the number of patients treated compared to the last quarter, as reported by BBC and The Irish News.
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has long maintained that at least 95% of patients should begin definitive cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral. Yet, this target has not been met since its introduction in 2008. The latest figures, described as "scandalous" and "unacceptable" by both advocacy groups and political figures, underscore a crisis that appears to be deepening rather than improving. Liz Morrison, public affairs manager for Cancer Research UK in Northern Ireland, did not mince words in her assessment. "It’s unacceptable that people are still waiting too long for a diagnosis and treatment, something which causes real distress," Morrison told Downtown Radio & Cool FM. She continued, "Patients may miss opportunities for some treatments, or become too sick to receive them, which can also lead to poorer survival. It’s essential we start to see progress on meeting cancer waiting time targets which are missed time and time again. Performance against these targets in Northern Ireland is by far the worst in the UK."
Between April and June 2025, approximately 67% of patients waited longer than 62 days to start cancer treatment after being urgently referred by their GP, according to the Department of Health's own data. The consequences of these delays are not merely statistical. Morrison emphasized the human cost: "Long waits mean patients may miss opportunities for some treatments, or become too sick to receive them, which can lead to poorer survival." The distress these delays cause to patients and their families cannot be overstated, she added. The charity has repeatedly called for cancer waits to be made a clear priority, especially in light of the recent appointment of Professor Mark Taylor as Clinical Director for Elective Care in July 2025—a move intended to tackle waiting lists that have reached an all-time high.
The crisis extends beyond the 62-day benchmark. For the same quarter, only 129 out of 1,947 patients (6.6%) referred urgently to see a breast cancer specialist were seen within the 14-day target. This represents a dramatic fall from 84% meeting the target a decade ago, according to figures highlighted by The Irish News. For patients starting cancer treatment after a decision to treat, the statistics were somewhat more encouraging: of 2,607 patients, 2,291 (87.9%) met the 31-day target. However, these numbers do little to soften the blow of the more critical delays at the earlier stages of diagnosis and treatment initiation, where time is often of the essence.
Political reaction has been swift and, at times, scathing. Colin McGrath, the SDLP’s health spokesperson, lambasted what he called a "shocking increase" in cancer waiting times over the past decade. "These figures are scandalous, and every missed target represents a life put at risk," McGrath declared. He pointedly noted that the 62-day target achievement rate has plummeted from 64% ten years ago to just 32.5% today, while the percentage of breast cancer patients seen within the 14-day window has nosedived from 84% to 6.6%. McGrath laid the blame squarely at the feet of successive health ministers and political inaction: "The shocking increase in waiting times for cancer treatment over the past ten years is the direct consequence of years of delay, neglect, political collapse and lack of planning by successive health ministers. I am concerned that the current Executive is simply not able to grasp the severity of this problem. People need and deserve to see tangible results. When will any progress be seen on the ground?"
The Department of Health, for its part, acknowledged the anxiety and distress these delays cause. In a statement, the Health Minister affirmed, "The Health Minister acknowledges that many patients will feel anxious as they wait longer than they should for assessments. He is committed to reducing waiting times across the system and embedding the changes that will lead to better outcomes for all patients." The Department further pointed to the publication of a revised Elective Care Framework (ECF) on May 24, 2024, which sets out a five-year roadmap to reduce waiting times. They assert that, if fully funded, the actions outlined in the ECF will help close the demand–capacity gap and tackle excessive waits. However, as of now, elective care waiting times in Northern Ireland remain the longest in the UK.
Systemic challenges have compounded the crisis. The Department of Health has cited the introduction of the new 'Encompass' patient record system as a complicating factor, noting that it is currently unable to provide a complete picture for validated breast cancer referrals for certain quarters. They caution that data produced since the rollout of Encompass should be considered "official statistics in development" and may not be directly comparable to figures from previous years. But as McGrath pointed out, "Cancer doesn’t wait for a new data system to bed in, and those struggling with this illness know only too well that in terms of diagnosis and treatment, time is crucial."
Advocacy groups are not letting up in their demands for urgent action. Morrison and Cancer Research UK have called for decision makers to prioritize the safety of those most at risk of poor outcomes due to delays, and to "strengthen the capacity of health services by investing in staff, equipment and innovation." The charity argues that only with increased resources can the Northern Ireland Health Service hope to cope with the predicted rise in cancer cases in the coming years.
As the debate continues, the numbers speak for themselves. All health trusts missed the 62-day target for the quarter, and the performance was the third worst on record. The Department of Health’s own figures show a system under immense strain, with patients and their families bearing the brunt of the consequences. While the publication of a new framework and the appointment of a senior clinical lead to tackle waiting lists are steps in the right direction, the reality on the ground remains grim for many facing a cancer diagnosis in Northern Ireland.
For now, the question remains: will these new initiatives bring about the long-awaited progress, or will patients continue to face distressing waits for the care they desperately need?
