Name: Mike Nesbitt addresses breast cancer waiting times.mp4
Uploaded: 2026-07-02T10:24:17.000Z
Duration: 1 min 38 s
Description: Mike Nesbitt has defended the introduction of a new regional breast cancer service because it has reduced the variation between the ‘best’ waiting times in the Western Trust and the ‘worst’ in the Southern Trust.

Mike Nesbitt has defended the introduction of a new regional breast cancer service because it has reduced the variation between the ‘best’ waiting times in the Western Trust and the ‘worst’ in the Southern Trust.

The Health Minister said he had introduced the new service coordinated by the South Eastern Trust from the Ulster Hospital because of ‘unacceptable’ variations in waiting times for breast cancer patients starting treatment within 14 days of an urgent referral.

Mr. Nesbitt was asked about breast cancer waiting times by DUP MLA Diane Dodds.

"The current waiting time is, I believe, just over five weeks, which is down from 12. That is cold comfort, given that the target is 14 days, but I will point out two issues to the Member.

Mike Nesbitt has defended the introduction of a new regional breast cancer service because it has reduced the variation between the ‘best’ waiting times in the Western Trust and the ‘worst’ in the Southern Trust.

placeholder image — Mike Nesbitt has defended the introduction of a new regional breast cancer service because it has reduced the variation between the ‘best’ waiting times in the Western Trust and the ‘worst’ in the Southern Trust.

"The first was the unacceptable variation between trusts. The Western Trust and the Southern Trust were the best and the worst. If you were living in the Southern Trust area, you might have had a wait that was three months longer than that of your best friend who was living in the Western Trust area, despite only living half a mile from them,” he said.

The new regional service was announced in September 2024 and went live in May 2025 with ‘red flag’ patients offered appointments at Altnagelvin, Antrim Area, Belfast City, Craigavon or the Ulster Hospital according to need.

Following the introduction of the new centralised service the Department of Health has stopped providing 14 day breast cancer waiting time results by Trust geography.

However, concerns were raised by local politicians that in the immediate aftermath of the roll-out of the new regime waiting times for suspected breast cancer patients in the Western Trust had lengthened.

Under the old system the Western Trust consistently posted the best waiting figures for breast cancer patients starting treatment within 14 days of an urgent referral.

Speaking in the Assembly Mr. Nesbitt said: “In getting rid of the variation and having a consistent service with a single booking system, progress has been achieved. The second objective, which is to drive down the waiting time, is being achieved but is not complete yet. As I said, we started at 12 weeks. We are now at just over five weeks, and pressure continues to be applied to get down to the target time.”