Endoscopy – Belfast HSC Trust NOT LIVE
3 in 5 (61.5%)
people on the endoscopy waiting list had waited 6 weeks or less (1,575 waiting).
Official quarterly figure for quarter to Jun 2026 · Department of Health (NI)
Northern Ireland diagnostics data for Quarter ending June 2026, published 3 September 2026 · Page updated 2 November 2026
Endoscopy waiting times in Belfast
Waiting times for endoscopys at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which serves Belfast, Northern Ireland.
These are Northern Ireland figures, not NHS England data. Health services in Northern Ireland are run separately and publish their own statistics, which use different definitions. Figures here come from the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) hospital waiting times statistics. Emergency department waiting times for Northern Ireland are published quarterly as a report; see the Department of Health link for the latest A&E figures.
Belfast: local hospitals and referrals
- Local NHS organisation: Belfast is served by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which runs its hospitals and decides where patients are referred.
- Main emergency department: Royal Victoria Hospital.
- Where to check your own referral: your GP or the hospital booking team at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust can tell you where you would be seen and your expected wait.
- Official source: the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) hospital waiting times statistics.
What is an endoscopy?
Endoscopy here combines the four NHS England endoscopy tests: colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, cystoscopy and gastroscopy, where a thin camera is used to look inside the body.
Endoscopy waiting list at Belfast HSC Trust
At the end of the quarter (Quarter ending June 2026), 1,575 people were waiting for an endoscopy at Belfast HSC Trust, of whom 606 (38.5%) had waited more than 6 weeks. Across Northern Ireland the figure was 40.4%; a lower percentage is better. Northern Ireland diagnostic figures are published quarterly by the Department of Health and count people waiting more than 6 weeks at the end of the quarter.
Belfast HSC Trust: % waiting over 6 weeks for endoscopy Northern Ireland
| Quarter ending | Belfast HSC Trust % over 6 weeks | Northern Ireland % over 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 38.5% | 40.4% |
| March 2026 | 32.2% | 42.5% |
| December 2025 | 38.8% | 48.5% |
| September 2025 | 34.6% | 53.1% |
| June 2025 | 47.9% | 59.2% |
| HSC trust | % over 6 weeks |
|---|---|
| Northern HSC Trust | 25.4% |
| Western HSC Trust | 27.6% |
| Belfast HSC Trust | 38.5% |
| South Eastern HSC Trust | 46.2% |
| Southern HSC Trust | 55.9% |
Endoscopy waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Endoscopy waiting over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor (County Down) | 11 miles | South Eastern HSC Trust | 46.2% | 2,867 |
| Antrim | 14 miles | Northern HSC Trust | 25.4% | 1,480 |
| Ballymena | 23 miles | Northern HSC Trust | 25.4% | 1,480 |
| Newry | 33 miles | Southern HSC Trust | 55.9% | 1,955 |
More for Belfast: all waiting times · MRI scan waiting times in Belfast · CT scan waiting times in Belfast · Ultrasound waiting times in Belfast. England comparison: Endoscopy waiting times in England.
Sources and dates
| Official statistics | Reporting period | Published | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health (Northern Ireland): Northern Ireland diagnostic waiting times (quarterly) | Quarter ending June 2026 | 3 September 2026 | Official source |
This page was last updated on 2 November 2026. The reporting period is the time the figures describe; the published date is when the official publisher released them. These figures describe people who were already waiting or attending during the reporting period. They are not a forecast or a guarantee of how long someone referred now will wait: that depends on clinical urgency, the hospital and the service.
Official statistics are reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See data sources and methods, or report a figure that looks wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for an endoscopy in Belfast?
38.5% of the 1,575 people waiting for an endoscopy at Belfast HSC Trust had waited more than 6 weeks (Quarter ending June 2026), compared with 40.4% across Northern Ireland.
Why is this not the same measure as England?
Northern Ireland diagnostic figures are published quarterly by the Department of Health and count people waiting more than 6 weeks at the end of the quarter. England reports the share waiting under 6 weeks from NHS England’s DM01 return.
Where do these figures come from?
From the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) hospital waiting times statistics, published under the Open Government Licence.