Improving outcomes for people with skin tumours including melanoma

Improving Outcomes for
People with Skin Tumours
including Melanoma
Initial investigation,
diagnosis, staging and
management
D. Measurement
Structure
• Written protocols, agreed by all MDTs in the network, which
specify investigations and management for each type of
presentation of potential skin cancer.
• Locally approved training courses for GPs in the diagnosis of skin
lesions.
• Locally approved training courses for skin surgery for any
practitioner who undertakes this in the community.
• Availability of written information for patients about their cancer,
proposed interventions, and hospital and support services.
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• Access to orthovoltage radiotherapy machines.
• Audit of availability of high-quality medical photography and
storage of digital images.
Process
• Time between first GP consultation with sign/symptoms of skin
cancer and histological confirmation of diagnosis.
• Evidence that all tissue samples from possible cancers are sent to
a designated pathologist with expertise in identification of skin
cancer.
• Audit of visual diagnostic accuracy to compare clinical and
histopathological diagnoses.
• Audit of adequacy of resection.
• Time between initial investigation and definitive diagnosis.
• Audit of visual diagnostic accuracy.
• Audit of adequacy of resection.
• Surveys of time to first definitive treatment in line with national
targets (see section on ‘Cancer waiting time targets’).
• Surveys of patients’ and carers’ views.
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National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence