Northern Trust skin cancer ‘red flag’ cases up by a third in a year
A dermatologist examines a patient for skin cancer. Picture posed. Photo: Getty
The number of urgent referrals for suspected skin cancer in the Northern Health Trust increased by almost one third in a year, board members have been told.
A meeting of the Trust board at Antrim Hospital last week heard that “red flag demand” has risen by 32%.
Audrey Harris, the Northern Trust’s divisional director of medicine and emergency medicine, said there are 90 “red flag” slots for patients per week and 150 referrals.
Triage by photographs submitted by GPs also takes place. Members heard that, however, there can be “issues with photo quality”.
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Members were also told in the Northern Trust, the dermatology team is “very small with staff challenges over the last number of years”.
Meanwhile, the number of patients has risen from 7,009 in 2022/23 to 9,239 during 2023/24.
News Catch Up - Monday 31 March
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Northern Ireland and accounts for one in four of all cancers.
Care in the Sun, which was set up as part of the Department of Health’s Northern Ireland Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy, states that the risk of melanoma skin cancer is “significantly increased” when use of tanning devices starts before 35 years of age.
It says modern sunbeds emit greater doses of UV rays than tropical midday sun.
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