Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of waiting times from GP referral to first appointment with dermatology clinic on patients; and what data his Department holds on average such waiting times (a) for NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB and (b) nationally.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care, including for dermatology.

Whilst no formal assessment has been made of the potential impact of waiting times from general practice (GP) referral to first appointment with a dermatology clinic on patients, dermatology services are being transformed to make sure that patients are seen on time. NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is working with National Health Service trusts to deliver rapid clinical transformation, with the aim of reducing the numbers of patients waiting more than 52 weeks. The work brings together clinicians and operational teams to work collectively to transform patient pathways, reduce unnecessary appointments, and improve access and waiting times for patients.

A clinical transformation group for dermatology was established in summer 2023, focusing on sharing and learning from best practice. Topics for collaboration have included innovative clinic models, for instance super clinics, best practice in the use of technology for telemedicine, best practice in reducing Did Not Attends, reducing unnecessary follow ups through Patient Initiated Follow Up, the role of artificial intelligence, how to develop nurses into advanced roles, and factors to help motivate and retain staff.

GIRFT is also planning a programme to support primary care colleagues, offering training for new staff to recognise harmless skin lesions, like moles and warts, with the aim of reducing unnecessary referrals to hospital and freeing up capacity for other patients on the waiting list.

Unpublished management information, as of 29 September 2024, from NHS England gives the average wait time for those waiting for first activity on a dermatology pathway of 15.4 weeks for the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, compared to 13.9 across the whole of England.