A new 'Derm Clinic' (Dermatology Evaluation and Removal of potential Malignancy) has been launched at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. 

In recent years, the Trust has seen demand for the service rapidly increase, with suspected skin cancer referrals more than doubling.

The clinic, in Outpatients at Tameside Hospital, is set to help the Trust meet that increased demand, improve patients’ experience and reduce the amount of hospital visits they have to make.

The Trust aims to see all patients who are referred on a two-week wait for suspected skin cancer on Tuesday mornings at the clinic, and, if they require a biopsy, they will have the option of having it done on the same day.

Dr Eileen Parry, Consultant Dermatologist, said: “The Dermatology and Service Transformation teams have all worked together to get this new clinic up and running. The launch is a culmination of six months’ work and meticulous planning. We have had to completely re-think the service so that we are able to meet the increase in urgent cancer referrals that we have seen over the last 12 months.

“The new clinic is a one stop, rapid-access appointment for patients, where they will have their lesion assessed and, if needed, have the lesion biopsied or removed as part of their appointment in the clinic. We saw 24 patients on the first day and the clinic worked really well.”

Chief Executive, Karen James OBE, said: “I would like to thank colleagues for implementing this innovative new clinic for our patients in Tameside and Glossop. With skin cancer being one of the most common forms of cancer in the UK, it’s a good example of how the organisation is designing services to meet the needs of our patient population.

"Those referred will benefit from being seen, reviewed and treated, if necessary, all in one visit to our Outpatients Department, which will save time and reduce anxiety between appointments.”