Hi absbay

The waiting times for dermatology appointments are very poor. There is a shortage of staff who work hard and do their very best.And there are too many people me included presenting with skin cancers. They do prioritise serious cases leaving slow growing BCCs Actinic keratosis etc on the general waiting list. Even if you pay for private treatment there is a long wait. Millions of people jet off each year to beach holidays in countries with high UV index and do not protect their skin adequately adding to the future backlog. We all need to proactively protect our skin by wearing hats use sunscreen long sleeves trousers dresses and avoid midday sun when UV is high including at home in UK.

Ed

I agree with Ed's comment as to why delays are so bad. There is also a shortage of histologists which is holding everything up and the shortage of dermatologists is roughly 600 !

Can I ask, what type of skin cancer have you been diagnosed with? If it's melanoma, then those wait times are not acceptable. Sadly the wait for a diagnosis is usually due to both the GP & the hospital. However, a 217 day wait for the next appointment (I'm assuming it's for further surgery if it's melanoma) is not acceptable. If it's melanoma, you should complain to PALS as no one should be waiting 7 months for further surgery.

If it's BCC, two years ago my sister-in-law waited 180 days between diagnosis & the next appointment for extra surgery, so there looks to have been no improvement, especially as most hospitals are doing surgical appointments at weekends to try and bring down the waiting list. 

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

I was referred on a fast track by my doctor to the local nhs hospital who then referred me to a private company who took me off a fast track within 2 days saying that the pictures were blurry and then sending a letter saying I had the all clear. That was before seeing a Dermatologist. 

When I got to the dermo a month later he referred me for an urgent biopsy which came back within 3 weeks but then they refused to give me the results until I had a telephone appointment 3 weeks later.

They confirmed infiltrative and nodular bcc and they discharged me sending a self referred link back to NHS for mohs and reconstructive surgery. The shortest waiting list for an appointment is another 5 months. From then I have no idea until when treatment might possibly happen.

Hi absbay

You must be under considerable stress with such a long wait for treatment. It may be worth considering private treatment if you can afford it even if you have to take out a small loan. Meanwhile protect your skin as it is very likely you have other sun damaged areas which could develop. In uk today UV index is max 6 enough to seriously damage your skin.

Ed

I'm glad you are seeing a private consultant & hopefully the cost will be within your financial limits. Meanwhile, I would keep pestering the NHS Dermatology for an earlier appointment. If you are available at short notice, ask them to put you on the cancellation list as you are happy to take a cancellation slot at any time. Sometimes this works!

Hi Absbay

Hopefully now you have accessed healthcare privately you can move ahead with your treatment. Skin damage often occurs when we are children spending a lot of time outdoors. As you say family members are likely to be prone to skin cancer too. Hope your treatment goes well.

Ed