A skin cancer service has been designed putting the patient
at the centre. All the relevant disciplines come to one clinic
so that the patient does not have to attend different
specialties and hospitals at a number of visits. The redesign
of services was patient driven and has ensured that all
suspected skin cancer patients are seen in a timely and
appropriate way by the relevant health professional.
Designing the service involved significant changes for all
key stakeholders. These included: having a weekly clinic in
one department with dermatologists, plastic surgeons,
oncologists and a nurse specialist in attendance; pooling of
all referrals so that patients were evenly distributed; having
flexibility in the clinic to allow professionals to spend as
much time as needed with patients; arranging a nurse-led
biopsy service at the initial consultation; booked
appointments straight away on a date and at a hospital to
suit the patient; urgent excision undertaken straight away
in the dermatology theatre, and surgeons being selected
for their specialist skills. All suspected skin cancer patients
are now seen 2-3 weeks after their biopsy, often in a nurseled
clinic, where health education is also given.
The key to the success of the project was good
communication, with the whole team of health
professionals and administrators committed to providing a
patient-centred service, and making time to meet and
discuss the patient pathway. New skills have been
developed with the team now providing a national surgery
course for nurses throughout the UK.
The team’s patient champion says “I was made to feel that
the skin cancer team really cared about me. I didn’t have
to wait long to see someone and they were always at the
end of the telephone when I had questions. I have now
had six operations and each one was at a time to suit me.
My mum died from melanoma so the experience has been
really scary for me, but everyone I have come into contact
with has been really caring and supportive.”
For more information on this project, please contact:
gill.godsell@nuh.nhs.uk
