A strong start to 2026 for the NCIS Programme

The National Cancer Information System (NCIS) programme has begun 2026 with strong momentum, marked by the successful go-live at Wexford General Hospital (WGH) on 10th February and the expansion of NCIS functionality at Cork University Hospital (CUH) with the go-live of NCIS Med on 24th February.

These milestones reflect sustained national progress in digitally transforming cancer services and strengthening how care is planned, delivered, and recorded for patients across Ireland.

Wexford General Hospital Go-Live

The launch of NCIS at WGH represents a significant achievement for the hospital and completes the rollout of NCIS across the HSE Dublin and Southeast Region.

Delivered by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in partnership with HSE Technology and Transformation, NCIS provides a single, integrated national platform to support the planning, compounding, and administration of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT).

The WGH team was supported on go-live day by colleagues from the NCIS National Office within NCCP and the Technology and Transformation NCIS team, ensuring a smooth and well-coordinated transition.

Moving to a single national system delivers clear benefits:

• A comprehensive, lifelong cancer treatment record.
• Safer, more consistent care across hospitals and care settings.
• Stronger coordination between multidisciplinary teams.
• Standardised treatment protocols and workflows.
• Improved access to accurate, up-to-date patient information.
• Reduced duplication and administrative burden.
• Enhanced clinical decision-making supported by a complete treatment history.

For patients, this means their treatment information follows them, reducing delays, avoiding duplication, and supporting safer, more seamless care.

With WGH now live, 23 hospitals nationally are using NCIS to support the safe delivery of SACT, bringing Ireland closer to a fully integrated, nationally connected cancer information infrastructure.

Expanding Capability at Cork University Hospital

At the same time, Cork University Hospital (CUH) has progressed Phase 2 of its NCIS implementation, further expanding the system’s functionality and deepening local adoption.

On 24th February, CUH successfully went live with NCIS Med, representing an important expansion in the use of NCIS within the hospital. This enhancement builds on earlier implementation work and reflects continued maturity of the programme at one of the country’s largest cancer centres.

The introduction of NCIS Med strengthens clinical workflows, improves integration of treatment information, and enhances the completeness of the patient record, further embedding NCIS as the core digital platform supporting oncology care delivery.

Improving Quality, Safety and National Integration

By providing a shared, longitudinal cancer treatment record, NCIS strengthens communication across care teams and supports more informed treatment decisions. This contributes directly to improved patient safety, higher quality care, and greater efficiency in cancer services.

The progress at both WGH and CUH demonstrates not only continued national rollout, but also the expansion and deepening of NCIS capability in established sites, a key marker of programme sustainability and impact.

A Collective Achievement

This strong start to 2026 reflects months of preparation, training, and collaboration across all clinical teams, including pharmacy, nursing and medical as well as administrative, ICT, and programme teams nationally. The progress at WGH, CUH, and across the programme is a testament to the dedication, flexibility, and partnership of colleagues at local and national level.

Congratulations to everyone involved in driving this momentum, a significant step forward for cancer care in 2026 and beyond.