Regional changes blamed for growing red flag breast cancer waits

SDLP Health spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has expressed deep concern at the growing delays in waiting times for red flag breast cancer assessments in the Western Trust following the introduction of the new regionalised model in May 2025.

Red flag appointments, which previously averaged a two-week wait, have now stretched to at least nine weeks.

The Foyle MLA said: “Patients in the Western Trust area are being badly let down. What was once regarded as a first-class breast service in the West has now been undermined by the Department’s new regional waiting list model.

“Where the West was best, the waits for this service is worsening by the week.

“Red flag patients should be seen within two weeks. Instead, patients are now waiting nine weeks; with warnings that by the end of September, that delay could stretch to twelve.

“That is totally unacceptable, particularly when every day of waiting can have devastating consequences for those with a cancer diagnosis. I’ve spoken to patients and their families enduring these agonising waits, panicking about possible progression of the disease in the interim.

“This regionalised system, which became operational on 8 May 2025, was supposed to ensure fairness and equal access across the North.

“Yet it appears to have had the opposite effect in the Western Trust and there is little evidence of genuine regional collaboration to equalise waiting times for other red flag screenings or diagnostic tests.

“The Western Trust had previously raised concerns with the Department about the likely impact of this model.

“Unfortunately, those concerns weren’t heeded and are now being borne out in reality. Patients and families are paying the price.

“I’ve written to the Health Minister asking him to urgently review this system and take immediate steps to bring waiting times back within target.

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“When every second matters and early diagnosis is critical, people deserve timely access to assessment and treatment, not months of distressing delays.”