Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has visited Northern Ireland's new regional breast assessment booking centre, just weeks after launching this significant reform initiative.

The Minister's visit to the Ulster Hospital site underscores his ongoing dedication to addressing long-standing inequalities in breast cancer care and eradicating the unacceptable variations in waiting times that previously existed across different Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts.

Launched in early May 2025, the new centralised regional assessment booking service is managed by the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT). This service is complemented by assessment clinics strategically located within each of the five Trusts, ensuring that all patients referred with suspected breast cancer are seen based on their clinical need rather than their geographical location. This initiative forms a key part of the Minister's broader agenda to improve patient outcomes and boost public confidence in diagnostic services.

During his visit, Minister Nesbitt engaged with both the centralised administration team and the clinicians and staff responsible for delivering one of the five regional clinics. Minister Nesbitt commended the partnership efforts that brought this reform to fruition: “This is a change built on partnership. It has been achieved through genuine co-production between clinicians, Trusts, administration teams and, most importantly, the patients we serve. I want to thank everyone involved in making this major reform possible. I launched this service to ensure that all women across Northern Ireland have fair and timely access to potentially life-saving assessments. It's heartening to now meet the administration team, clinicians, nurses and patients who are seeing the benefits of this reform. This is a powerful example of how regional working can lead to better, more equitable care.”

The Minister also noted the role of digital infrastructure in supporting the change: “The rollout has been supported by the implementation of the encompass electronic patient record system, now live across all Health and Social Care Trusts. This digital infrastructure enables coordinated appointment booking across the region and improves the use of available capacity. The regional waiting list will not fix all the issues impacting breast services in Northern Ireland, however it is an important first step. To support wider reform of services, an additional £5m has also been secured to increase core capacity for assessment and surgery across the region.”

While most patients will continue to attend their local hospital, the regional system, managed by the South Eastern Trust's centralised administrative team, may offer earlier appointments at any of the five acute hospital sites: Altnagelvin Area Hospital (Western Trust), Antrim Area Hospital (Northern Trust), Belfast City Hospital (Belfast Trust), Craigavon Area Hospital (Southern Trust), or Ulster Hospital Dundonald (South Eastern Trust).

Currently, this regional system is applied specifically to 'red flag' breast cancer referrals. Patients with other breast-related symptoms will continue to be managed through local pathways, although a wider review of breast services is underway to set standards and make recommendations for all symptomatic breast services.

The Minister's visit aligns with broader efforts to transform health services, including the consolidation of assessment and surgical services, while ensuring that vital aftercare and chemotherapy remain accessible close to patients' homes. These initiatives collectively aim to provide timely, equitable, and patient-centred care across Northern Ireland.