Last week, on Friday 4 September the Health Service Journal (HSJ) held their annual Value Awards. Initially planned for July, the ceremony was postponed and ultimately ended up being held on Twitter!
The #TeamCDDFT Dermatology team and Partners had been nominated for an award for the work done in rapidly implementing a service change that has seen a huge benefit to patients suspected of having skin cancer.
This partnership project between CDDFT, local partner CCGs and an independent company, Consultant Connect, covers a population of over one million people, to which CDDFT provides a sub-regional dermatology and plastics service. Instead of sending a traditional two-week-wait (2ww) referral for an out-patient skin cancer appointment, GPs now send photos of the lesion with an eRS referral. A consultant dermatologist views the images and the referral details within one working day and triages the patient into the appropriate service. The project has the full support of the local cancer network, the North East Cancer Alliance.
The team did not win the big prize, but the department is very proud of being nominated and as a Trust we’re hugely grateful to everyone involved.
NHS County Durham CCG
County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group
