Ulster Unionist Health Minister Robbie Butler has highlighted how routine gynaecology treatment in primary care with a GP can help reduce hospital waiting lists.

Speaking during Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, the Minister visited Lisnaskea Primary Care Centre, where he met GPs delivering elective gynaecology services in the community.

The service provides assessment and treatment for HRT, heavy menstrual bleeding in women under 45, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and pessary replacement. Suitable patients can be treated in primary care, avoiding a referral to hospital.

Minister Butler said:

“My priority is building a health service around people and communities.

“We are making progress and I want to build on that momentum. The Elective Care Framework is about tackling the backlog now while changing how we provide care for the future.

“Women should not be waiting for a hospital appointment when they can be safely assessed and treated closer to home. This is reform in practice - getting patients to the right care sooner and freeing hospital capacity for those who need specialist treatment.”

The Minister also highlighted Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month as an important opportunity to encourage women to be aware of changes in their health and seek medical advice if they have concerns.

Established in 2018, Primary Care Elective Services use a host-practice model, with local practices referring suitable patients to GPs with enhanced skills.

There are currently 19 practices delivering the service, with around 6,000 gynaecology patients assessed and 3,000 procedures undertaken each year. Other pathways include dermatology, minor surgery and non-scalpel vasectomy.

The Department confirmed £2.9million recurrent funding for Primary Care Elective Services in 2025/26.

This activity is also helping address existing hospital waiting lists. Around 650 patients have transferred from South Eastern, Western and Southern Trust services, with work under way to validate and transfer a further 750 patients across gynaecology primary care elective service providers.

Professor Mark Taylor, Department of Health, Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care said: “We have shown that waiting lists can come down, but we now need to go further and faster.

“That means tackling the backlog while changing the pathways that created it. Gynaecology is an important focus. Treating suitable patients in primary care avoids unnecessary hospital referrals, releases specialist capacity and helps women access care sooner.

“This is the clinically led reform we need to deliver the Programme for Government commitment to reduce waiting times.”

Work is continuing to increase the capacity and reach of Primary Care Elective Services across Northern Ireland.

During the Minister’s visit to County Fermanagh, he visited the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) to hear more about the Western Trust’s programme of work to develop a vision for Future Health and Care Services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone. The Minister welcomed that the Trust are extending the formal engagement phase to the end of October to allow time for more input [westerntrust.hscni.net/about-the-trust/fwt-future-health-and-care-services]. He then visited The Human Milk Bank Service [https://westerntrust.hscni.net/service/human-milk-bank/].

Minister Butler also spent time engaging with the South West GP Federation and Western Federation Support Unit (FSU), hearing directly about the delivery of General Practice in the area, and discussed the opportunities and challenges facing General Practice and wider primary care.