A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Improving Efficiency in Teledermatology Triage of Skin Cancer Referrals

Rising two-week-wait skin cancer referrals have increased pressure on hospital services. We audited our teledermatology service and evaluated the impact of introducing a standardised referral proforma and clinical photography checklist. This intervention successfully reduced patients’ time to discharge by 35%, decreased face-to-face consultations from 54% to 13% and improved direct-to-surgery referrals all while maintaining clinical safety and improving patient satisfaction. Our findings demonstrate that regular audit and structured interventions in referral pathways can enhance efficiency, reduce unnecessary hospital attendances and support the delivery of a sustainable, modern skin cancer service.