Stockport’s GPs now set to get under your skin

23rd November 2017

Just under two years ago NHS Stockport CCG began an innovative project to give local GPs the skills and specialist equipment to confidently assess skin problems that were worrying their patients.

It’s enabled the family doctors to diagnose many cases themselves in their own surgery without the need to refer their patient on to a dermatologist consultant.

It meant the GP’s were able to instantly give their patients reassurance that, for instance, a mole or crusty scab was nothing to worry about.

And for those who did need to be referred to a hospital specialist, the whole process was speeded up because the specialists are seeing far fewer people.

The project has been such a success that consultants are currently seeing about 30 less patients a month meaning they have more time to dedicate to those who really need them.

And health service organisations around the country are sitting up and taking notice too with many planning to follow Stockport’s lead.

Not surprisingly the service is now up for two national awards but more importantly the feedback from patients, GPs and consultants has been overwhelmingly positive.

The specialist equipment – a dermatoscope – is a powerful microscope that enlarges the area of skin the doctor is looking at by ten times giving them the detail they need to make a diagnosis.

Almost all of the GP practices now have at least one dermatoscope and in all 86 local GPs are professionally trained to use them.

Stockport CCG’s Head of Service Reform, Karen Moran, said “It is brilliant that Stockport has been a trailblazer for this work. It’s a great success story.

“The consultants are really pleased that they are now generally only seeing patients who need their expertise so we’re not wasting NHS resources.

“Here in Stockport it’s our goal to ensure that patients always get the right treatment, at the right time, in the right place and continually upskilling our GPs will help towards achieving this.”