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Urgent Dermatology referral

Lauralouise1211
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So my GP sent an urgent referral to dermatology at my local hospital last week. He sent photographs along with it. I received a letter this morning telling me there are currently no appointments available and so I contacted the hospital and was informed the wait time  is around 16 weeks. I'm slightly worried about this now as my GP was concerned and yet he also says there is nothing he can do. 

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    Hi Laura,

    Is the referral for a suspected Basal Cell Carcinoma or Melanoma? If it's for a dodgy mole, suspected melanoma, then your GP needs to refer you on the 2 week Cancer Pathway. A BCC referral however has always been a longer waiting list. Pre Covid it averaged 8 weeks wait, now it can be anything between 16 and 35 weeks depending on the hospital. If you want to be seen quicker you would need to pay for a private consultation which would cost about £200. If it then needed removing and you can't afford to pay privately you can transfer back to the NHS with the delays that entails.

    Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    It's suspected squamous cell carcinoma. It's not a mole no it's more of a rash that has gotten worse since I saw my GP. Im thinking with a wait time like that I should be concerned now. Thank you for replying. 

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