Dear Patient
You have been referred by your GP for urgent assessment of a lesion on your skin. To direct you to the most appropriate care you will initially be seen in our Photography Clinic. Which is based in the dermatology department at:
Clifton Hospital
Pershore road,
Lytham St Anne’s
FY8 1PB
A new digital dermatology service called Centralised Virtual Triage has been set up to cut waiting times for patients with suspected skin cancer.
Teledermatology involves a healthcare professional taking high-quality images of a suspicious skin lesion. The images are then uploaded to a digital platform called Pathpoint eDerma. A skin cancer specialist will then review the images remotely, via the Pathpoint eDerma platform, to determine whether the lesion may be cancerous and if face-to-face treatment is required. This approach reduces the demand for in-person appointments and waiting times from referral to diagnosis and, when needed, treatment.
Before your appointment, you will have received a digital patient questionnaire to complete via email or text. Alternatively, when you are seen in the department, whilst waiting, you can complete the questionnaire, and a nurse will be able to assist you if required. A photographer will then take photographs of the skin lesion identified and referred by your GP.
Please note we will only assess the specific lesion that your GP has referred you with.
We usually take 2 types of photographs; a standard lens photograph followed by one with a microscopic lens which gives us high-quality close-up images. These are saved digitally to your medical file and uploaded to be reviewed by a skin cancer specialist who works at Centralised Virtual Triage. Your images will usually be reviewed within 2-3 working days to decide on the most appropriate course of action. You will not have a face-to-face consultation with a doctor or nurse at this appointment.
The skin cancer specialist who triages your photographs may offer you further treatment or appointments once they have reviewed your photographs and questionnaire.
You may be asked to:
• Come back for an urgent (2 weeks) or a routine (12 weeks) biopsy or removal of skin lesion. (If urgent the waiting list team will be in contact within 72 hours).
• Come back for an urgent face to face clinic appointment (2 weeks) with a doctor or nurse.
• Reassurance and a routine appointment letter (usually within 3 months). This may be for repeat photographs.
• Reassurance letter and no further treatment or follow up appointment required (Discharged).
We may ask you to come back urgently for several reasons and it does not necessarily mean that you have skin cancer. However, this is the skin cancer referral pathway and this may be what we are investigating.
If there is any uncertainty around the diagnosis you will be called back for an urgent review by the skin cancer specialist.
You will receive a letter in the post within 2-3 weeks of your appointment. If you have not heard from us after the 4 week period, please contact us on our telephone number: 01253 957089 / 01253 956238.
Studies have been undertaken in the United Kingdom and in this department have shown the same outcomes whether patients were seen in person or in a tele-dermatology clinic. The questionnaire we have asked you to complete gives the dermatologist additional information to aid diagnosis.
Yes. All your data will be kept safely in accordance with existing NHS regulations.
