Cancer Research UK has issused a stark warning about the impact of waiting times
Cancer waiting times in Northern Ireland are set to get worse unless emergency action is taken to protect patients, new research has revealed.
Over the next five years around 20,000 people in Northern Ireland will not start treatment on time unless action is taken, according to Cancer Research UK.
The charity says emergency measures to tackle Northern Ireland’s cancer diagnosis backlog must be introduced to protect patient safety.
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With cancer waiting times in Northern Ireland already the worst in the UK, the charity says immediate action is needed.
In the past five years, around 15,400 patients in Northern Ireland began treatment later than the 62-day target following a red flag referral.
A red flag referral is an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer, which should prioritise patients with specific concerning symptoms such as persistent lumps, unexplained bleeding and skin changes to start treatment.
However, between October 2020 to September 2025, around 15,400 patients waited longer than the 62-day target.
Cancer Research UK analysts predict that if health service performance remains as it is now, the situation will worsen over the next five years, meaning 20,000 people will not start treatment on time.
Even a four-week delay to surgery can increase the risk of death by 6–8% for some cancers.
Naser Turabi, Cancer Research UK’s director of evidence and implementation highlighted that cancer “is a progressive disease that becomes harder to treat over time”.
“We’re deeply concerned that the long waits many patients in Northern Ireland are experiencing may be affecting their prognosis,” he said.
“We need to see immediate action to protect patient safety by reducing the backlog of people still waiting for diagnosis and treatment.
“Healthcare staff are doing an incredible job, and future reforms must build on and amplify the excellent practice already happening.
“But there’s no doubt that cancer services here are under severe pressure and the Northern Ireland Executive must now develop an emergency stabilisation plan, prioritising patients at the highest risk.”
Mother-of-four Sabrina Devlin from Hilltown in County Down was recalled for further tests after a routine mammogram in January 2025 revealed areas of concern.
It was confirmed in February 2025 that Ms Devlin had breast cancer, a recurrence of a disease she had overcome in 2013.
She then faced a 70-day wait before her treatment began with surgery in May last year and she said she did not feel she “had time” on her side.
“The fear, the uncertainty, the turmoil and the sleepless nights as you wait can feel as bad as the treatment itself,” she said.
“I had to fight and advocate for myself through every step of this journey.
“Each day I had to wait, I felt more anxious that the cancer would progress. I felt let down.
“I was truly grateful to the medical staff but actually waiting for the cancer treatment was incredibly hard. The waiting left me feeling emotionally and physically broken.”
She added: “There was definitely more waiting than I’d experienced 12 years earlier when I was first diagnosed with cancer. It’s worrying that waiting times are getting worse.”
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