Publication of Northern Ireland Cancer Waiting Times Statistics: January to March 2024

The Department of Health today published Accredited Official Statistics on cancer waiting times for the quarter ending March 2024.

This release gives details of the waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospitals in Northern Ireland during January, February, and March 2024.

On 9 November 2023 the South Eastern Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust launched ‘encompass’ – a new electronic patient record system. Its rollout across the other Trusts will follow on a phased basis throughout 2024/24. Consequently, as the Trust continues transition to completely digitised health records at the time of this publication, the data which has been included for the South Eastern HSC Trust from quarter ending December 2023 onwards are considered to be ‘official statistics in development’. Therefore, caution must be exercised when using these figures.

Key Facts

Waiting times for first definitive treatment following a decision to treat (31-day target)

• In the quarter ending March 2024, 2,949 patients started their first definitive treatment, 6.1% (170) more than in the previous quarter (2,779), and 5.9% (165) more than in the same quarter last year (2,784).
• 86.5% (2,551) of those patients started treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat, compared with 88.6% (2,463) in the previous quarter and 87.8% (2,445) in the same quarter last year.

Waiting times for first definitive treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer (62-day target)

Figures for the 62-day target do not include the South Eastern Trust as validated data were not available at the time of publication.

• In the quarter ending March 2024, 1,111 patients in the Belfast, Northern, Southern and Western Trusts started their first definitive treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer. This was 3.3% (35) more than in the previous quarter (1,076), and 19.4% (267) fewer than in the same quarter last year (1,378).
• 29.8% (331.5) of those patients started treatment within 62 days, compared with 30.0% (323) in the previous quarter and 34.8% (479) in the same quarter last year.

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

• In the quarter ending March 2024, there were 3,605 patients seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer. This was 1.9% (68) more than in the previous quarter (3,537), and 0.9% (32) fewer than in the same quarter last year (3,637).
• 34.1% (1,230) of those patients were seen within 14 days of their urgent referral for breast cancer, compared with 35.5% (1,254) in the previous quarter and 84.2% (3,062) in the same quarter last year.

Referrals for suspect breast cancer

• In the quarter ending March 2024, 6,861 referrals were received by HSC Trusts for suspect breast cancer, of which 70.1% (4,810) were classified as urgent.

Notes to editors: 

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

2. About the data:

• Data used to report on the 31- and 62-day targets are sourced from the Cancer Patient Pathway System (CaPPS), the system used to administer cancer treatment services within HSC Trusts.
• Data used to report on the breast cancer activity and referrals are sourced from the Patient Administration System, an administrative system used to manage, record, and monitor hospital waiting lists within HSC Trusts.
• Data for the South Eastern HSC Trust from 9 November 2023 onwards are sourced from ‘encompass’, which is a new electronic patient record system. These data are ‘official statistics in development’. The rollout of encompass across the other Trusts will follow on a phased basis throughout 2024/25.

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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. This information is provided by Hospital Information Branch, Department of Health. Further information is available from:

Hospital Information Branch
Department of Health
Annex 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

9. For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email at pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.

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11. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 81

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