Dermatologists drop plans to offer public mole checks

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 22:02

PLANS to offer the public mole checks at a dermatology conference have been scrapped amid fears it would put extra pressure on the health service.

The British Association of Dermatologists had wanted to run the checks – to pick up early signs of skin cancer – at its annual conference in Glasgow.

But the idea was dropped yesterday after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde complained of a lack of notice.

Health chiefs also voiced fears that a surge in referrals could put pressure on local services at a busy time of year.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "Our Dermatology Directorate has a very demanding workload and its first priority has to be to ensure that patients referred by their general practitioners with possible skin cancer are seen as quickly as possible.

"If the association had involved local departments in discussions at a much earlier stage, rather than including the event in the programme without prior consultation, then local dermatologists may have been able to assist with an appropriate event."