AQW 49269/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 22/06/2026
Answered On Date: 15/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether any of the £80 million allocation for waiting list and elective care capacity building will be used to increase endoscopy and pathology capacity.

Answer:

As part of the Elective Care Framework: Implementation and Funding Plan, £13m was provided to expand endoscopy services as part of the £85m investment in cancer and time critical capacity. This funding has already supported waiting list improvements. When comparing 30 June 2025 and 31 March 2026, there has been a 35% reduction in the total number of patients waiting, alongside a 92% reduction in the number of patients waiting in excess of 78 weeks. No further funding is included from the £80m allocation.

Provision has been made within the £80m allocation to expand pathology capacity alongside other diagnostic services. My department is working to finalise these investment plans. A detailed breakdown of areas prioritised for investment will be shared publicly in due course.