Remote diagnosis of skin conditions ‘could halve dermatology waiting lists’

A new service enabling patients with skin conditions to be diagnosed remotely could cut dermatology waiting lists in half, it has been announced.

The digital dermatology service enables GPs to securely send images of a patient’s skin to specialists for analysis using a mobile device.

An initial assessment of the condition is done digitally, and patients are then offered a face-to-face appointment, directed to a more suitable service, or given advice on managing their condition.

GPs have referred more than 12,000 patients using the service since its national rollout in September.

It is estimated up to 130,000 dermatology referrals a year could be made this way, cutting demand on dermatology waiting lists by up to 50%.

Dr Fiona Macdonald, consultant dermatologist and clinical lead for dermatology at the NHS’s Centre for Sustainable Delivery, said: “Digital dermatology helps dermatologists carry out robust referral triage without the patient being present, enabling them to prioritise the most urgent referrals.

“Referrals with images also allow the option to offer advice and/or a diagnosis to colleagues in primary care at the point of referral, rather than patients having to wait for an appointment.

“The new system will help support the referral process where appropriate, and patients will still have the choice of whether to include an image.

“If they choose not to, then the referral will be processed efficiently in the usual way.”

Around half of dermatology referrals each year are for suspected skin cancer.

The service means cancer can therefore be ruled in or out more quickly, providing “faster reassurance for patients who do not have cancer, and earlier diagnosis for those who do”.

Early melanoma diagnosis is particularly important for patient outcomes, with almost all patients at stage one of the disease expected to live five years or more, compared with just 50% at stage four.

Health secretary Neil Gray said: “Digital dermatology is a fantastic example of how innovation is improving access to healthcare and delivering our Programme for Government commitments.

“It provides faster reassurance for patients who do not have cancer and earlier diagnosis for those who do, potentially leading to better treatment options and outcomes.

“I want to thank everyone who has worked hard to deliver this successful national rollout as we continue to harness technology to reform our NHS for the future.”

The national rollout has been funded by £1.8m from the Scottish Government through the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption initiative.