AQW 35292/22-27
Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast
Tabled Date: 12/11/2025
Answered On Date: 28/11/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 30535/22-27, (i) for an update on how the £5 million allocated to support and expand breast services across Health and Social Care Trusts has been spent; and (ii) to detail what impact it has had on red flag breast cancer waiting times.
Answer:
Further to AQW 30535/22-27 answered in September 2025, I can confirm that the £5 million recurrent funding allocated under the Elective Care Framework (ECF) to support and expand breast services across Health and Social Care Trusts has been directed towards a range of targeted initiatives designed to alleviate service pressures and improve patient access. (i) How the funding has been spent The £5 million Elective Care Framework funding is currently being utilised non-recurrently to commission additionality for breast services including breast assessment whilst work is ongoing towards increasing core HSC capacity using more sustainable and more efficient care pathway models. Approximately £44,000 of non-recurrent funding was allocated up to September 2025 to support waiting list initiatives. This enabled the assessment and treatment of 236 additional patients through a combination of inhouse and Independent Sector capacity. In October 2025, a bespoke pilot was introduced to address immediate pressures in breast services and inform longer-term elective care reform. This pilot adopts a Payment by Results model, remunerating consultants based on the number of patients seen rather than traditional sessional hours. Building on successful practice within Western Health & Social Care Trust, this approach aims to unlock additional HSC capacity for red flag breast assessment clinics. Key benefits include alignment with long-term elective care reform goals, encouraging efficient, outcome-driven care delivery, and offering flexibility and sustainability beyond traditional sessional models. The £5 million will be used to fund the associated additional pilot activity planned October to December 2025 and in the final quarter ending March 2026. My Department, in partnership with key stakeholders to implement sustainable, long-term solutions. DOH official are collaborating with Professor Juliette Murray, Consultant Breast Surgeon and National Clinical Director at the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, NHS Scotland. Professor Murray brings valuable expertise, having successfully led the redesign of breast services in Scotland in response to similar challenges around demand and capacity. A regional workshop is scheduled for 26 November to explore service redesign opportunities, including the development and integration of advanced practice roles. (ii) Impact on red flag breast cancer waiting times My Department is working closely with Trusts to ensure Red Flag referrals are prioritised within existing core capacity to ensure timely access for the most clinically urgent cases. Following introduction of the bespoke Payment by Results model, a number of additional regional waiting list clinics were delivered during evening and weekends throughout October. Further extra clinics have been confirmed for all Trusts in November 2025 and December 2025. These measures, combined with increased core activity post-summer, have contributed to a reduction in waiting times for red flag breast assessment from 10 weeks to 7 weeks. I fully accept, however, that there is still more to be done. Planning is underway for additional clinics into early 2026 to maintain this progress. My Department remains committed to collaborating with Trusts and stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions deliver timely, high-quality care for all patients accessing breast services.
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