Regional reform reshapes breast cancer diagnostics in Northern Ireland

A centralised breast assessment booking system has gone live across Northern Ireland, overhauling how patients are referred and scheduled for potentially life-saving diagnostics. Spearheaded by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, the move tackles long-standing inconsistencies in wait times between Health and Social Care Trusts.

Powered by the encompass electronic patient record system, the new model enables referrals based on clinical need rather than postcode, increasing efficiency and transparency across five regional hospital sites. Backed by £5m in additional investment, it’s an early proof point of how data-driven, regional collaboration can optimise stretched resources while improving patient outcomes.

Read the full article to explore how integrated digital infrastructure is transforming access to healthcare in Northern Ireland.