Is it an emergency?
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in North East Essex News
People in north east Essex who are worried about skin lesions and moles are now able to have them quickly diagnosed – thanks to a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool.
The Skin Analytics DERM system scans photographs of skin lumps, sores, or abnormal growths for 11 of the most common malignant, pre-malignant and benign skin conditions.
If it suspects a lesion is potentially cancerous it will recommend referring the patient to a consultant dermatologist on an urgent suspected cancer pathway for a more detailed examination.
Otherwise, following a second read by a consultant dermatologist, the AI tool will either advise that patient is referred to their GP to receive treatment for a more minor condition, or they will be informed it is nothing to be concerned about.
North east Essex-based GP Primary Choice (GPPC) has been trialling the AI technology on a pilot basis at practices in Clacton since August last year.
The trials were extended in March this year to include GP surgeries in Harwich. They have already been used to analyse 1,000 local patients.
The technology is now being rolled out across practices in Colchester as part of a pilot scheme that will run until March 2025.
The pilot has been funded by Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare which is a national award-winning programme. It accelerates innovative technologies in the NHS and the wider health and social care system, tackling unmet health and care needs.
It has led to the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB), GPPC and Skin Analytics being shortlisted in the ‘Provider Collaborative of the Year’ category at the Health Service Journal Awards 2024.
Skin cancer is the second most common cause of cancer referrals in England, with 509,668 in 2019/20. Referrals have almost doubled since 2015.
Locally, the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) currently receives more than 1,000 skin referrals each month.
GPPC launched the skin cancer trials in partnership with DERM’s creators, Skin Analytics.
The firm launched in 2020 and now has 15 live partnerships with the NHS across the country that have seen more than 80,000 patients with skin lesions.
Rachael Dovey, Commercial Director at Skin Analytics, said: “Our partnership with SNEE ICB is something everyone at Skin Analytics is immensely proud of.
“This pioneering approach to using AI to innovate the dermatology pathway sustainably gives patients fast access to skin cancer checks, while preserving dermatology capacity for those who need it.”
Bronwen Griffiths, Senior Partnership Manager at Skin Analytics, said: “DERM analyses images of any skin lesions where there is a suspicion of skin cancer.
“It can identify a range of different conditions including melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas, Bowen’s disease, actinic keratosis, and atypical naevus.
“Any possibly cancerous lesions are immediately referred to a consultant dermatologist at Colchester Hospital for further investigation.
“If DERM rules out the possibility of a lesion being cancerous it can refer the patient back to their GP to get treatment for more minor conditions.”
Dr Alice Parr, Cancer Lead for the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB), said: “This AI tool is a game changer.
“People who are worried about a skin lesion or mole can obtain an appointment to have it photographed within two to four days.
“The use of DERM will help manage demand and significantly reduce the need for patients to attend hospital.
“Around 93% who are referred urgently with suspicious skin lesions by the NHS will not have cancer.
“This tool is a vital part of a new virtual skin cancer pathway that not only ensures suspected skin cancer cases are referred speedily into the system, but also provides swift reassurance to people with less serious conditions.”
Laura Cook Chief Operating Officer at GPPC said: “As an organisation we are incredibly proud to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative.
“Patients can get an appointment within a week and results within 48 hours. The feedback we have received from both patients and practices about the service has been excellent and we hope we can continue to be a part of this great collaboration.”
Anyone worried about a skin lesion or mole that has grown or changed can ring their GP to book an appointment to have an image of it taken at one of three imaging hubs run by GPPC in north east Essex at Clacton, Harwich or Colchester.
Several GP practices in north east Essex offer their patients the ability to triage their appointments online via their website and the ability to book their own appointment into the skin lesion clinic.
Patients must be over 18 years of age, have only one or two lesions or moles, and not already be on a local skin cancer pathway.