'Pictures of health' cut skin cancer check waits

Digital imaging of suspected skin cancers has dramatically cut waiting times for diagnosis and treatment in Nottinghamshire.

Clinical photographers in parts of the county now see patients referred by GPs typically within a couple of days, rather than them having to wait what used to be sometimes weeks to see a consultant for just an initial appointment.

The imaging includes using artificial intelligence (AI) smartphone software, which then sees pictures sent to a consultant dermatologist to assess, without needing to meet the patient.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the approach was freeing up specialists' time to focus on surgery.

Fiona Hayward-Lyon, from Farndon in Nottinghamshire, is one of nearly 2,000 patients seen by the trust with suspected skin cancer who have benefitted from faster access to diagnosis.

The service was fully introduced in June 2024 and one year on, has been described as a "big success" by the trust.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Ritu Singla said the photography service allowed medics to reassure patients sooner if they did not have cancer.

"We can rule out lots of benign [non-cancerous] lesions, which are the bulk of cases," she said.

"It also enables us to start treatment sooner for those patients where cancer has been diagnosed."

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Source: BBC News, 3 July 2025