AQW 52281/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health whether any end of treatment summaries are available for all cancer types, in each Health and Social Care Trust.
Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 17 September 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 17 September 2026
- Answer due by
- 2 October 2026
- Answered
- 2 October 202615 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
A Treatment Summary Record is a document completed following a significant phase of a person's cancer treatment. It provides information on treatment received, potential consequences of treatment, ongoing clinical management, actions the patient may need to take, and relevant contact details. A copy is provided to the individual and their General Practitioner (GP).
The Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland 2022-2032 includes an action to develop a comprehensive Treatment Summary Record for all individuals diagnosed with cancer.
Work is currently being progressed collaboratively across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts to develop and implement a regional Treatment Summary Record. This includes adapting an established treatment summary model for use in Northern Ireland and exploring how Encompass can support communication, coordination and information sharing.
While some services may utilise treatment summary documentation as part of local practice, comprehensive Treatment Summary Records are not currently available for all cancer types across all HSC Trusts.
The regional programme remains in development and is intended to support the future implementation of a consistent approach across Northern Ireland.