Improving outcomes for people with skin tumours including melanoma

• Adherence to treatment protocols (radiotherapy, chemotherapy
and other treatments), and adherence to individual treatment
plans.
Outcome
• Reduced time to diagnosis.
Improving Outcomes for
People with Skin Tumours
including Melanoma
Initial investigation,
diagnosis, staging and
management
• Improved patient experience.
• Services adapted to evidence obtained from surveys of patients’
and carers’ views.
• Improved visual diagnostic accuracy in relation to
histopathological finding as gold standard.
• Reduced local recurrence rate.
• Better survival in MM.
• Reduced time to definitive surgery.
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E. Resource implications
Investigation and diagnosis
The main resource implication of the recommendations concerning
the investigation and diagnosis concerns the additional role for
histopathologists. The increased workload has been calculated taking
account of LSMDT and SSMDT working, implementation of the
minimum dataset, doubling the reporting of severely atypical naevi,
and MM and SSMDT mandatory review. Approximately two-thirds of
the additional workload relates to SSMDT and tertiary review.
It is estimated that approximately 1.75 additional consultant
histopathologists/dermatopathologists would be required per network
to support the guidance. In addition, there would be an additional
requirement for laboratory staff, not calculated here. The additional
annual employment costs of the histopathologists will be around
£171,991 per network. (This cost has been included in the total cost
for additional staff required as a result of the guidance, reported in
the ‘Organisation of skin cancer services’ chapter.)
Guidance on cancer services: skin tumours including melanoma
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