Good news · Health & science · 6 November 2026
£1.95 million to improve endometriosis services in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive has announced a £1.95 million investment to boost endometriosis care. The funding aims to cut waiting times and strengthen local services for patients across the region.
The Northern Ireland Executive has confirmed a £1.95 million investment to improve endometriosis services across the region. The primary goal is to enhance access to care and reduce waiting times for patients. Minister Butler said: "This £1.95 million investment is an important step towards improving access to diagnosis, treatment and support."
Funding is split between specialist and local services. £700,000 goes to the two Regional Endometriosis Centres in the Belfast and Western Trusts. The remaining £1.25 million supports the five Health and Social Care Trusts in strengthening local services and implementing a new Regional Endometriosis Pathway. Earlier allocations of £1.8 million for assessment and triage services, and £1.9 million for procedural nursing capacity, have already been provided.
Figures published with the announcement show outpatient waiting lists across Northern Ireland fell from 54,770 in September 2025 to 47,318 in September 2026. Patients waiting over a year for inpatient and day case treatment saw a 56% drop. In Belfast Trust, the maximum wait for a first outpatient gynaecology appointment is currently 2 years and 10 months.
At Belfast City Hospital, 130 patients have undergone robotic assisted surgery since the platform launched in May 2026. The longest wait for inpatient and day case treatment in Belfast Trust has reduced from 7 to 3 years. There has also been a 4% reduction in women waiting for a first outpatient gynaecology appointment in Belfast Trust.
The announcement does not detail a specific timeline for the full rollout of the new Regional Endometriosis Pathway beyond the immediate funding distribution.
Written by StreetOwl from Northern Ireland Executive’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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