AQW 47799/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health

To ask the Minister of Health to detail a breakdown, by Health and Social Care Trust, of the 12,000 patient referral letters which went missing from the encompass system.

Asked by Nuala McAllister MLA on 3 June 2026

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
3 June 2026
Answer due by
18 June 2026
Answered
22 June 202619 days after tabling
Department
Department of Health
Priority question
No

Answer

The correspondence in question refers to referral rejection letters issued to the referring GP or clinician following triage, where a decision is taken not to proceed with the referral and the reason for that decision is provided.

The figure of 12,000 referenced publicly reflects early indicative estimates prior to detailed validation. A subsequent regional review undertaken by Health and Social Care Trusts has confirmed that 7,032 referrals were affected, where a rejection letter was not generated at the point of triage.

The breakdown by Health and Social Care Trust is set out below.

OrganisationTotal
HSC BELFAST TRUST1,573
HSC NORTHERN TRUST1,715
HSC SOUTH EASTERN TRUST961
HSC SOUTHERN TRUST1,331
HSC WESTERN TRUST1,452
Grand Total7,032

Official sources