More than 1,000 patients with suspected skin cancer have benefited from a new service at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust that aims to speed up diagnosis and treatment.

Teledermatology, which uses digital images to triage, diagnose, monitor or assess skin conditions without the patient being physically present, was introduced at King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton, and Newark Hospital.

The trust’s 1,000th patient to be treated using the technology was Dale Richardson, who said: “The whole process that I have been through, from referral to my appointment, has been amazingly fast. I called up the clinic and was offered an appointment for the following day, no waiting around.”

Teledermatology involves taking high-resolution digital photographs, which are then studied by a consultant dermatologist, who can assess them remotely and decide whether a patient needs to go to hospital for further investigation — or if they can be given assurance that cancer can be ruled out quicker.

For the patient, this eliminates the sometimes longer wait for a first face-to-face appointment with the dermatologist. Their first appointment for photographs is far quicker and the remote triage enables dermatologists to review twice as many patients than face-to-face appointments.

Dr Ritu Singla, consultant dermatologist, added: “Patients are increasingly more aware of skin cancer and as a result there has been a huge rise in the numbers waiting to be seen.

“The teledermatology service allows us to triage patients urgently-referred by their GP with suspected skin cancer much quicker. It allows us to reassure patients much quicker when they do not have cancer.

“It also enables us to start treatment sooner for those patients where cancer has been diagnosed.”