Wicklow-Wexford TD raises concern over delays for urgent breast clinic appointments

Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne has raised concerns after new figures showed more than one in five women referred for an urgent breast clinic appointment this year waited longer than the recommended timeframe.

Figures supplied by the HSE show that, up to June 2026, 15,629 women were newly referred to symptomatic breast disease clinics and triaged as requiring an urgent appointment.

Of those, 12,286 were seen within ten days, while 1,920 waited between 11 and 15 days.

A further 936 waited between 16 and 20 days, while 482 waited more than 21 days.

Overall, 3,388 women — around 21% of urgent referrals — waited longer than the recommended ten-day period.

The National Cancer Strategy sets a target that more than 95% of patients attending symptomatic breast disease clinics should be seen within ten working days.

North Wexford TD Malcom Byrne said early action in suspected cancer cases is critical and that every patient identified as urgent should be seen within two weeks.

He said that while the health service generally performs well in responding to suspected cancer cases, he remains concerned about patients experiencing longer delays and the possible implications for them.

The figures also show substantial delays during 2025. Of 30,100 women triaged for urgent appointments that year, 5,755 waited more than 21 days, while 18,443 were seen within ten days.

The HSE has stressed that the figures relate to patients being assessed for suspected breast cancer and that the majority will ultimately not receive a cancer diagnosis.