GPs across Bury have been given new training to help reduce the number of urgent referrals relating to skin conditions.

A total of 31 doctors across the borough have been provided with the skills and equipment to help diagnose skin conditions within their practices.

More than 120 urgent referrals to dermatology services were prevented in the first two months of the pilot programme which launched in May this year.

GPs attended a one-day workshop and completed online learning, as well as learning how to use a dermatoscope — a handheld device that magnifies the skin and uses light to allow them to see colour and structures in the skin that are not visible to the naked eye.

This training is due to be rolled out to all Bury GP practices by February 2020.

Craig Marshall, a health worker and Bury patient has benefitted from this new offer.

He said: “I went to see my GP to have some moles checked out. My GP was confident all but one of the moles was normal, and thanks to her education along with the availability of the dermatoscope, she was able to look at the remaining mole in more detail, which thankfully was also normal.

“Without this new facility, my GP would have had no choice but to have referred me to see a dermatologist.”

About one quarter of urgent referrals to dermatology services for lesions where cancer is suspected, result in being for conditions such as benign moles or seborrheic keratosis — a non-cancerous skin lesion.

The aim of the DECIDE Education ProgrammeTM pilot, led by Dr Mini Singh from Manchester University, is to reduce the need to refer as many patients for urgent specialist dermatology assessments, where demand is high.

Wendy Craven, Clinical Lead at NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: "The introduction of this education and dermatoscopes into Bury GP practices has been well received by our clinicians, bringing an additional skillset to primary care. Many patients are now diagnosed within the practice and therefore don’t have the worry of waiting two weeks to be seen by a specialist, freeing up dermatology services for patients that do need to be assessed by a skin specialist urgently."

“At the heart of the project is to care for patients in the most appropriate setting, and whilst it is early days, initial figures suggest that it is having a significant positive impact with speedier diagnosis and an overall improved experience for many patients. It also ensures the most appropriate use of NHS services when they are in demand.”

The CCG will evaluate the pilot with the University of Manchester and Health Innovation Manchester after one year.