Objective:

To evaluate the cost implications and operational efficiency of a community-based teledermatology model compared to standard care for patients in the urgent suspected skin cancer pathway, emphasizing the urgency of timely evaluations.

Key Findings:

• Community-based teledermatology improved access and reduced waiting times for skin cancer evaluations, with specific metrics to be included.
• Cost analysis indicated potential savings for the NHS compared to traditional care models.
• High-quality image capture by trained health care assistants enhanced diagnostic accuracy.

Interpretation:

The community-based teledermatology model demonstrates a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face consultations, addressing both access and efficiency challenges in skin cancer diagnosis, with implications for improved patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• Study limited to a single NHS trust, which may affect generalizability and the potential impact on findings.
• Potential biases in retrospective data collection for the comparator arm.

Conclusion:

Implementing community-based teledermatology can enhance patient care and reduce costs, aligning with NHS goals to improve service delivery in dermatology, particularly emphasizing the importance of early detection.