AQW 15279/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 18/09/2024
Answered On Date: 07/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for cancer diagnostic tests.

Answer:

My Department has funded two Rapid Diagnosis Centres, delivering a pathway for patients with vague symptoms which could indicate cancer. Work is underway to develop new, site specific Rapid Diagnosis Pathways for patients with suspected cancer.

On 25 September 2024, I announced that a regional breast cancer service would be established, with a regional waiting list for patients. This will enable women waiting for assessment to access the earliest appointment available across the region.

Short term measures to address increasing wait times continue. This includes allocating additional funding to secure additional diagnostic capacity.

In 2023/24, £70.3m non-recurrent funding was allocated for patients requiring red flag and other time critical assessments and treatments. By March 2024, approximately 263,000 Outpatient/Advanced Healthcare Professional assessments, diagnostic tests and Inpatient/Day case procedures were delivered with an associated spend of approximately £70.3m

£76m investment has been approved non-recurrently for 2024/25 for patients requiring red flag and other time critical assessments and treatments. As at the end of July 2024, approximately 75,000 Outpatient/Advanced Healthcare Professional assessments, diagnostic tests and Inpatient/Day case procedures have been delivered.