To ask the Minister of Health to detail any reasons why the new regional breast cancer diagnosis service is not meeting targets for 14 day diagnosis for urgent referral, including when he expects the 14 day target to be met.

While access to breast assessment services has improved, with regional waiting times reducing from approximately 12 weeks in September 2025 to around five and a half weeks currently, the 14-day standard for urgent referrals is not being achieved. This reflects a continued gap between demand and available capacity, driven by sustained growth in urgent referral volumes, workforce constraints, and the need to address a backlog of patients when the regional waiting list was introduced.

Achieving the 14-day standard on a sustained basis will require both increased capacity and longer-term service reform. Through the Breast Operational Delivery Network, the Strategic Planning and Performance Group and HSC Trusts have agreed key principles for an optimal regional breast service model. These have informed the development of a regional service specification and commissioning framework linked to £5 million Elective Care Framework funding.

Work continues to provide additional evening and weekend clinics. Alongside this, measures are being implemented to expand capacity, strengthen the multidisciplinary workforce and establish a sustainable regional model of care. While it is not currently possible to provide a definitive timeframe for the consistent achievement of the 14-day standard across the region, these measures are expected to deliver further reductions in waiting times and support continued progress towards meeting the standard.

Improving timely access to breast assessment and diagnosis remains a key priority for my Department.