Tele-dermatology pilot - NHS Hampshire

ADOPTION/DIFFUSION

WHAT IS THE ISSUE?

Skin conditions are extremely common, affecting large numbers of people and accounting for 15 per cent of consultations with GPs in the UK.  Few are life-threatening, yet they often cause higher morbidity than other more serious medical conditions.  Skin disease accounts for some 60,000 hospital inpatient episodes, 600,000 dermatology referrals from GPs to secondary care services and over two million outpatient appointments each year.  

WHAT IS THE INNOVATION?

Tele-dermatology is proving to be an excellent means of fast-tracking serious dermatological cases to secondary care at a low cost. It relies to a large extent on visual information for diagnosis and promises to be an alternative means of delivering health care, diminishing inequalities in the provision of an overstretched health service, and improving access to dermatological care, especially in remote areas.

This project is an extension of a successful Tele-dermatology pilot which has been running across Hampshire. The extension aims to ensure the data from the pilot is clinically viable, to increase the number of practices included in this pilot and further develop the PCTs capacity to diagnose and treat patients with skin conditions.  

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT?

For patients/staff/service

• Reduction in waiting times for patients requiring urgent dermatological care.
• Significant decrease in time to diagnosis and surgical treatment of skin conditions.
• Tailored to patients needs and expectations.
• Providers have a wider geographical reach offering a specialised service.
• Improved primary care provision.

Increased quality and productivity

• Reduction in clinic time from follow-up by tele-dermatology.
• Up to 70% reduction in referrals from primary to secondary care.
• Released capacity for secondary provider.

Spread and sustainability

• Vantage Diagnostics (tele-dermatology service) will manage training, relationship management and awareness campaigns.
• Good awareness across Hampshire via PBC and APAC networks and engagement with GP practices.
• Self-sustaining.
• Learning from this pilot to be spread SHA wide.
  

Projected savings

• Up to 70% reduction in referrals – annual saving of £600,000 across GP practices relating to two acute trust areas.