New process will cut waiting times and support earlier skin
cancer diagnosis.
Patients at all GP practices in Scotland are benefiting from a
digital dermatology service designed to reduce waiting times and
improve outcomes.
Since the national rollout in September, GPs have referred more
than 12,000 patients. It is estimated that up to 130,000
dermatology referrals a year could be made this way, reducing
demand on dermatology waiting lists by up to 50%.
The national rollout has been funded by £1.8 million from the
Scottish Government through the Accelerated National Innovation
Adoption (ANIA) initiative.
GPs can now securely send images of a patient's skin condition to
dermatology 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.
Around half of annual dermatology referrals are for suspected
skin cancer, and the new service means that cancer can be ruled
in or out more quickly - providing either earlier relief or
diagnosis for patients.
Early melanoma diagnosis is vital for patient outcomes. At stage
one, almost all patients live five years or more, compared to
only 50% at stage four.
Health Secretary 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."
Dr Fiona Macdonald, Consultant Dermatologist and Clinical Lead
for Dermatology at the 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.”
Background
The rollout is a 2025-26 Programme for Government commitment. Led
by the Centre for Sustainable Development (CfSD) the pathway was
nationally adopted in 10 months and has been available to all GPs
since September 2025.
