Our PhotoSAF project in Leeds is attracting a lot of positive attention in the local press – you can read two of the articles reprinted in full below. In addition, take a look at the BBC Look North Yorkshire Video. The project is part of the Leeds Cancer programme, a joint venture by Macmillan Cancer Support, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trusts and NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
Known locally as The Teledermatology Service, it enables doctors to take images of anything unusual on the skin and send them straight to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for analysis.
“We can review the image that GPs attach to each referral and make a decision if the patient needs to be seen in clinic or not. This means we can reassure those patients who do not have skin cancer sooner, but also free up clinic time for those who need to be seen so they can start treatment more quickly.” Dr Walayat Hussain Consultant Dermatologist.
Commissioner feedback
“The Teledermatology Service will completely transform the way we deal with suspected skin cancer in Leeds creating a smoother, more effective process for both the patient and healthcare professionals.
“Patients who previously had to wait two weeks for an appointment will now have their diagnosis within 48 hours, helping to reduce anxiety, limit unnecessary hospital visits and, most importantly, provide faster access to treatment.” Helen Ryan, Macmillan Project Lead (Early Diagnosis) at NHS Leeds.
Patient feedback
Debra Wood, who was diagnosed with skin cancer last August, has welcomed the news: “I went to the GP with a mole that didn’t look quite right. Straight away, I could tell from the look on his face that it was bad, so I thought it was probably skin cancer, but then had to wait two more weeks to go to the hospital and have it confirmed. To be able to get that diagnosis sooner would make a massive difference as it would put your mind at rest.” You can hear more about Debra’s story in the BBC Look North Yorkshire Video
Jonathan Patrick, our CEO, commented “We are delighted to be part of the Leeds Cancer Programme. Advances with smart devices mean that the best camera in a GP practice is the one on a phone or iPad. Being able to take patient photos safely and securely with PhotoSAF on a smart device is a game changer. Since we have released PhotoSAF, clinicians have contacted us daily to tell us different ways they might make use of sharing photos, including getting dermatology advice from specialists. Leeds CCG’s decision to use it to help speed up the diagnosis of skin cancer is a fantastic, focused application of this that improves patient care and, of course, the chances of survival of those unlucky enough to have cancer. The project will last for an initial period of 5 years, so we are looking forward to improving cancer care in Leeds over the long term.”
New service will ‘transform’ skin cancer diagnosis
SUSPECTED skin cancer patients across Leeds can now look forward to much quicker diagnosis.
Pioneering technology has been set up in all local GP practices, including in Aireborough, Horsforth and parts of Wharfedale, to speed up diagnosis and treatment.
The Teledermatology Service allow doctors to take images of anything unusual on the skin and send them straight to hospital for analysis.
That means patients should receive a diagnosis within 48 hours of seeing their GP – instead of the previous, two weeks wait.
NHS Leeds says the change will transform skin cancer care in the Leeds area.
Patients who turn out not to have cancer will be reassured quickly, while those with a serious condition should get access to treatment sooner.
The project is part of the Leeds Cancer Programme, a joint venture by Macmillan Cancer Support, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
Macmillan Project Lead (Early Diagnosis) at NHS Leeds, Helen Ryan, said: “With the volume of skin cancer referrals increasing it is more important than ever that we work together to improve services and deliver the best care for patients.
“The Teledermatology Service will completely transform the way we deal with suspected skin cancer in Leeds creating a smoother, more effective process for both the patient and healthcare professionals.
“Patients who previously had to wait two weeks for an appointment will now have their diagnosis within 48 hours, helping to reduce anxiety, limit unnecessary hospital visits and, most importantly, provide faster access to treatment.”
Fifty one year old Leeds resident Debra Wood, who was diagnosed with skin cancer last August, has welcomed the news.
She said: “I went to the GP with a mole that didn’t look quite right. Straight away, I could tell from the look on his face that it was bad, so I thought it was probably skin cancer, but then had to wait two more weeks to go to the hospital and have it confirmed.
“I suffer from anxiety anyway, so there was all sorts going through my mind.
“The worst part is there’s no one to speak to between going to the GP and being referred and going to hospital.
“The waiting was really hard. To be able to get that diagnosis sooner would make a massive difference as it would put your mind at rest.”
National cancer transformation funding for the scheme – a total of £367,000 – was secured in 2017/2018 by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate (WYH) Cancer Alliance.
Consultant Dermatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr Walayat Hussain, said: “We see thousands of patients in clinic who are referred for suspected skin cancer and they are given appointments to come to clinic within two weeks from their referral.
“We know that this is a really nerve-wracking time for patients as they wait for a diagnosis and we want to make this easier.
“By rolling out the teledermatology system across Leeds, we can review the image that GPs attach to each referral and make a decision if the patient needs to be seen in clinic or not.
“This means we can reassure those patients who do not have skin cancer sooner, but also free up clinic time for those who need to be seen so they can start treatment more quickly.”
Technology speeds up skin cancer care
New technology to speed up the treatment of people with suspected skin cancer means patients will be diagnosed within 48 hours instead of the previous two-week waiting time. A “teledermatology” system which enables GPs to send images of skin conditions directly to specialists has been installed in Leeds doctors’ surgeries.
It will provide faster reassurance for people with changes to their skin which turn out to be harmless. And patients with potentially-harmfully skin conditions will be seen in hospital more quickly. The system has been launched to help tackle a skin cancer epidemic which is expected to see the number of hospital referrals in Leeds increase by 41 per cent by 2022. The teledermatology project is part of the Leeds Cancer Programme, which involves Macmillan Cancer Support, Leeds Teaching Hospitals and NHS Leeds CCG. Sarah Forbes, a Leeds GP and Associate Medical Director for the CCG, said: “This new service will make a huge difference to patients, providing a faster diagnosis in their community without having to go to hospital.
“The new technology which has been installed in every GP practice across Leeds will enable doctors to take a series of images and transfer them directly to a specialist at the hospital within a matter of minutes. It’s a great example of primary and secondary care working together to improve the patient experience.” Debra Wood, 51, from Leeds, was diagnosed with skin cancer in August last year. She said: “I went to the GP with a mole that didn’t look quite right.
“Straight away I could tell from the look on his face that it was bad, so I thought it was probably skin cancer, but then had to wait two more weeks to go to the hospital and have it confirmed. The worst part is there’s no one to speak to between going to the GP and being referred and going to hospital. “To be able to get that diagnosis sooner would make a massive difference, as it would put your mind at rest. It’s so important. You just want to know straight away.” The system is part of work by health bosses to increase early diagnosis, raising awareness of symptoms and increase the uptake of cancer screening. Helen Ryan, Leeds Macmillan Project Lead, said: “With the volume of skin cancer referrals increasing it’s more important than ever that we work together to improve services and deliver the best care for patients.
“The teledermatology service will completely transform the way we deal with suspected skin cancer in Leeds, creating a smoother, more effective process for both the patient and healthcare professionals.
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To find out more about Photo Advice & Guidance call us on 01865 261467 or email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk
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