A service at breaking point
NHS Borders faced a significant challenge in managing dermatology waiting lists due to increasing patient demand and limited specialist resources. By partnering with Dermicus and integrating teledermatology, NHS Borders successfully transformed their dermatology service, improving efficiency and improving access for the rural population.
Challenges
Long Waiting Lists
• Over 2,000 patients were on the waiting list, with 65 new referrals each week.
• In the beginning of 2023, more than 400 patients had been waiting for more than a year.
Specialist Shortages
• A national shortage of dermatologists compounded the issue.
• Primary care providers reported reduced diagnostic confidence.
Geographic Barriers
• Borders’ rural and aging population of 115,000 presented logistical challenges for delivering timely care.
Solution
NHS Borders adopted the Dermicus teledermatology platform, allowing primary care providers to capture and securely submit high-quality images and clinical information. Dermatologists could review cases remotely and provide timely diagnoses and management plans.
Better Triaging
• Quickly identifying patients who needed consultant care versus those who could be discharged with appropriate treatment or scheduled for necessary excision appointments.
• This streamlined approach reduced unnecessary face-to-face consultations, saving time and resources for both patients and NHS Borders.
Efficient Image Capture
• Image capture appointments took far less time than traditional consultations, enabling faster patient assessments.
Increased Capacity
• Teledermatology enabled up to 50 patients per day to be assessed, compared to 24 patients seen in person.
Focus on Urgent Cases
• Improved triaging ensured urgent skin cancer referrals met the 2 Week Wait guidelines.
• Patients with non-urgent, chronic skin conditions received faster diagnoses and care.
Results and Benefits
Reduced Waiting Times
Significant reduction in patient wait times for consultations.
Efficient Use of Resources
Optimized specialist time by triaging cases more effectively.
Improved Patient Care
Faster diagnoses and management plans led to better patient outcomes.
Scalability
The platform supported handling multiple cases simultaneously, easing system pressure.
“I don’t think we’ll ever go back. I think teledermatology is the future, particularly for skin cancers”
Kirk Lakie
General Manager for Planned Care Service, NHS Borders