Healix is the latest healthcare provider to offer a digital skin cancer check to employees covered via one its trust arrangements.
The new service will be offered in partnership with Circle Integrated Care, part of the largest private hospital provider in the UK.
Employees of Healix member companies will be able to submit a photograph of a skin lesion or mole which will be reviewed by a dermatology expert. Should a patient require a follow up, a face-to-face consultation for a biopsy or further treatment can then be booked with ease.
The service has been launched amid a rise in waiting times for dermatology appointments across the UK. Availability has been unable to keep pace with the growth in demand and as a result thousands of patients are left waiting for answers.
The NHS has set targets for patients with suspected skin cancer to be seen within two weeks, however reports have shown that thousands are waiting longer. According to published figures from NHS England, 623,000 patients were still waiting for a diagnosis 28 days after an urgent referral between October 2022 and June 2023.
Additional research by The British Medical Association (BMA) has shown that delays are not just affecting the diagnosis of skin cancer. In September 2023 alone, only 64.6 per cent of patients were receiving treatment within two months of a cancer screening.
Healix Health CEO Ian Talbot says: “It’s vital that employees have fast access to consultations at a time when pressure on health services persists.
“Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, with incidences of malignant melanoma rising faster than any other common cancer. We also know that early detection can save lives, so giving people the ability to alert healthcare specialists to skin concerns from the comfort of their own home is vital.
“With employees placing increasing importance on quick access to healthcare and even actively choosing employers based on the benefits they offer, it’s important that workplaces are stepping up to offer a wide range of services to cater for all circumstances.”
Circle Integrated care executive director Amanda Phillips adds: “Giving members the ability to communicate directly with leading skins specialists at a time and place that is convenient to them is vital in the fight against cancer. Moreover, it eliminates the stress and anxiety associated with waiting for answers.
“We are confident that the service will give workers across the country the confidence and assurance they need to make informed decisions about their health.”
The post Healix launches digital skin cancer check appeared first on Corporate Adviser.
