Northern Ireland Lung Cancer Meeting 2026: A Critical Moment for Change

On 19 November 2026, leaders from across Northern Ireland’s lung cancer community will gather at Hillsborough Castle for what promises to be one of the most important discussions on lung cancer in recent years. Hosted by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Sir Chris Bryant MP, the Ulster Thoracic Society - and supported by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) - the meeting comes at a pivotal time for lung cancer services and policy in Northern Ireland.

Building on last year’s momentum

This year’s event follows the highly productive session held at the Harbour Commissioner’s Office during Lung Cancer Awareness Month in 2025. That meeting brought together clinicians, policymakers and patient organisations to agree priority actions for improving lung cancer outcomes across Northern Ireland. The resulting Blueprint for Lung Cancer in Northern Ireland set out a clear, evidence‑based roadmap for change.

Twelve months on, the Hillsborough Castle meeting will assess progress against those commitments and identify the next steps required to accelerate delivery. The ambition is simple: to ensure that lung cancer receives the priority it urgently needs within the health system.

Why screening must be a national priority

Northern Ireland is without a targeted lung cancer screening programme, despite the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation in 2022 that targeted screening should be implemented across all four UK nations. The evidence from England is unequivocal. Its targeted programme has now diagnosed more than 12,000 lung cancers, the majority at an early, curable stage. Wales will begin rollout from 2028.

Lung cancer is Northern Ireland’s biggest cancer killer — and 79% of deaths are considered preventable. Without targeted screening, Northern Ireland risks falling further behind the rest of the UK. Embedding screening within the NI cancer plan is essential if we are to shift outcomes and give more people the chance of early diagnosis and treatment.

A broad coalition for change

The strength of this meeting lies in its breadth of participation. Up to 100 clinical leaders, patient organisations and stakeholders will join the discussion, and the new Health Minister and key policymakers have also been invited.

This collective commitment reflects a shared understanding: improving lung cancer outcomes in Northern Ireland requires coordinated action, sustained leadership and a willingness to confront long‑standing gaps in service provision.

The 2026 Northern Ireland Lung Cancer Meeting is more than a policy discussion — it is an opportunity to drive meaningful change for patients, families and communities across the region. With clear actions, supported by evidence, strong clinical leadership and growing public support, Northern Ireland has everything it needs to move forward.

The challenge now is to act. For more information about the lung cancer meeting in Northern Ireland on 19 November, contact external-affairs@uklcc.org.uk or Wendy.Anderson@northerntrust.hscni.net