To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether any assessment has been made of access to homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing for ovarian cancer patient; (ii) whether patients diagnosed prior to February 2026 are eligible for HRD testing; and (iii) to detail any steps he is taking to ensure that patients are not excluded from accessing testing based on the date of their diagnosis.

My department is aware of the importance of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing in supporting optimal treatment pathways for ovarian cancer patients. Genomic profiling of cancers using next generation sequencing (NGS) was introduced in Northern Ireland (NI) in February 2022. While this represented a significant step forward, the panel in use at that time did not include the capability to assess HRD status.

In March 2026, services transitioned to a new testing provider, enabling access to HRD testing through a send-away model. The introduction of this enhanced testing capability was communicated in advance to Oncology and Pathology teams to ensure appropriate clinical uptake. Work is ongoing to consider the longer-term development of in-house sequencing capability, subject to the availability of the necessary infrastructure and equipment.

All ovarian cancer patients in Northern Ireland can now access HRD testing, regardless of when they were diagnosed. A retrospective testing approach, alongside testing for newly diagnosed patients, ensures equitable access for both current and previously diagnosed patients.

My department will continue to monitor service provision and work with clinical teams to ensure that access to appropriate genomic testing supports the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care for ovarian cancer patients.