Less than one in 10 patients with an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer were seen by a specialist within the 14-day target in the first three months of 2026, according to the latest figures.

The statistics, published by the Department of Health, show 306 of 3,890 patients (7.9%) referred urgently for suspected breast cancer were seen within the two-week target between January and March this year.

The latest figure is up from 5.5% (213 of 3,902) in the previous quarter, but still far short of the 100% target.

The median wait for patients seen by a breast cancer specialist during the quarter was 47 days, while patients waiting longest faced waits of up to 57 days, over four times the target.

The figures showed that 80.4% of breast cancer patients started treatment within 31 days of that decision during the quarter.

The 31-day figures showed wide variation between cancer types.

Just over 99% of the 119 people diagnosed with blood cancers started treatment within a month.

While gynaecological cancer patients were least likely to be treated within target of any major cancer type, with just under 80% of 148 patients starting treatment within 31 days.

Across all cancers, the median wait for treatment following a decision to treat was 6 days, but one in twenty patients waited longer than 48 days.

Longer waits reflect pressure on capacity across the system rather than a reflection of any individual patient’s outcome.

Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA said the Department of Health must redouble its efforts to address the “shocking” waiting times.

“Every time the department provides an update on breast cancer services it is the same story: only a tiny fraction of patients being seen within the target waiting time and hundreds being left in limbo for weeks while they wait to see a specialist,” Ms McAllister said.

“For some patients to be waiting more than twice the target waiting time is shocking and something that the Minister must urgently get to grips with. Clinicians are doing their best to see patients quickly, but they have been over-stretched for far too long and they will rightly be asking what the Minister is going to do to increase capacity in the system and deliver the responsive cancer services that local patients need.

“Breast cancer is among the most common forms of cancer affecting women in Northern Ireland and sadly hundreds of lives continue to be lost to it here each year. Ensuring that new red flag referrals are seen quickly is vital to improving survival rates and must be treated as a priority by the Minister for the rest of his time in the role.”