Hello and thank you for posting.

I am sorry you have concerns about skin cancer and a mole that has changed.

Unfortunately, I do not know what else you can do, as you have been to the doctor and been assessed and referred to the hospital system. It may be you can ring the dermatology department and ask for any last-minute cancellations.

In some situations, and if able to financially, people do get appointments within the private sector. 

Take care and if you find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline the number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040. The lines are open from 9 am till 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

Sarah.

Hi Irvine,

If I can just jump onboard your post. Although 2 week referrals are taking longer than 2 weeks, a 2-3 month wait is highly unusual although I have heard of this problem in Scotland (I don't know if you are there). As Nurse Sarah says, you can contact dermatology & say you are happy to take a last minute cancellation if one comes up. Also, my advice is that you can either ask your GP if there is another hospital with a shorter waiting list that they can refer you to, or you can consider paying for a consultation with a private dermatologist (most of these are also NHS consultants). If you can afford to do that & they say the mole needs removing for a biopsy, you can then be transferred back to the care of the NHS for the removal. If, however, they think it looks fine under the dermascope, you've at least saved some worrying time.

The Boots Mole Clinic is good but it only flags up a concerning mole & you still have to go for a referral via your GP as Boots can't refer you to a hospital.

Good luck & I hope you aren't waiting that long. Please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patent since 2009)