Sheffield’s urgent suspected cancer (USC) dermatology pathway has been redesigned to deliver faster patient care by optimising referral quality. Since December 2024, over 9,000 referrals have been reviewed, resulting in a significant improvement in waiting list performance.
The Challenge
The pathway faced two significant issues:
- Many referrals arrived with poor-quality or no imagery, limiting clinical decision-making.
- Reduced local clinical capacity led to delays and growing waiting lists.
This created hold-ups for patients, GPs, and the dermatology team.
The Solution
48-hour expert review
All USC referrals are now assessed within 48 hours, utilising the clinical expertise of remote NHS consultant dermatologists on the National Consultant Network (NCN), thereby easing local pressures and improving turnaround times.
Consistent, high-quality images
GPs can submit dermatoscopic photos, or patients can attend an imaging hub. Better imagery is directly improving referral quality and enabling more accurate triage.
Simple for GPs
The pathway uses existing e-RS processes, meaning no retraining and minimal change for primary care.
Impact
The optimised pathway is consistently delivering strong results:
- 19% reduction in the waiting list, ensuring patients are seen in the right place the first time
- A clear correlation between better quality referrals via imaging hubs and increased referrals avoided, supporting more efficient patient management
What’s next
- Encourage or mandate imaging hub use where images are missing or of poor quality
- Explore rollout to Plastics and Routine Dermatology
- Provide GP training based on referral trends
- Expand imaging hub capacity to meet rising seasonal demands
Sheffield’s refreshed pathway is proving that better-quality images, streamlined processes, and rapid expert review can transform USC dermatology triage and improve outcomes for both patients and clinicians.
If you have a question or would like to learn how Consultant Connect can support your NHS area, please contact us on 01865 951207 or email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk.
