To ask the Minister of Health whether there are any regional disparities in bladder cancer diagnosis, treatment or outcomes.

Bladder cancer is managed within the urology specialty and delivered through a regionally configured model of care across Northern Ireland. Urology services are delivered across four Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts: Belfast, South Eastern, Southern and Western.

Initial diagnostics and first definitive treatments are generally delivered locally, with more complex surgery, including radical cystectomy, provided as a regional specialist service primarily within Belfast HSC Trust. Genito-urinary systemic anti-cancer treatments (e.g. chemotherapy) are delivered across all Trusts whilst radiotherapy for the region is delivered by the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre in the Belfast HSC Trust and the North West Cancer Centre in the Western HSC Trust.

Cancer waiting time performance is reported at urological cancer level rather than for bladder cancer specifically. Latest published data shows that urology performance against the 62‑day standard is challenged across all Trusts due to demand, workforce and capacity pressures. Performance against the 31‑day standard is most challenged in the Belfast HSC Trust, reflecting its role as the regional specialist provider for complex bladder cancer treatment, rather than indicating regional variation in access.

The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) produces annual official statistics which includes cancer incidence, prevalence and mortality in Northern Ireland. The most recent validated data available from the NICR covers cancer diagnoses up to and including the year 2022. This is confirmed in the Bladder Cancer Official Statistics Report (2025), which specifies the bladder cancer data annually from 1993 to 2022. This report, factsheets and datasheets can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/cancer-information/cancer-data-by-tumour-type/bladder-cancer/

All aspects of the data are not reported by Trust however, where data is broken down by Trust of residence, it does not indicate statistically significant variation in either incidence or mortality.

Overall, given the regional and centrally delivered configuration of services and the available performance and cancer registry data, there is no current evidence of unwarranted regional disparities in the diagnosis, treatment or outcomes of bladder cancer. Ongoing investment through the Elective Care Framework will further support urology capacity and waiting time improvement across the region.