We provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for a broad range of skin conditions, including minor skin surgery.
As well as caring for existing conditions, we are committed to supporting long‑term skin health and protecting patients from skin cancer.
How the service works
Our dermatology service treats conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and other inflammatory skin problems.
We also run specialist clinics, including a biologics service and a tele-dermatology clinic for fast, convenient assessment for suspected skin cancers.
Where we are
We are based in N Block at Royal Bolton Hospital, and deliver our tele-dermatology service from J Block.
What to expect at your appointment
Biologics screening appointments
Depending on your condition, your dermatologist may refer you to a specialist nurse or pharmacist for a screening appointment to see if you would be suitable for specific medications.
This appointment helps us make sure the treatment is safe and suitable for you and gives you the chance to learn more about how it works:
- In the 1‑hour face to face appointment we will ask about your general health and discuss how the new treatment works, how to take it, and any important risks or side effects.
- We will explain the monitoring and follow‑up checks you will need while on treatment.
To ensure the medication is safe for you, you will need blood tests to check your liver and kidney function, do a full blood count, any immunity to chicken pox, and screen for viruses including Hepatitis B and C and HIV.
Some patients may also need additional tests and/or a chest X‑ray depending on the treatment.
It will take about two weeks to get your test results, then if approved for treatment, it will take around 3-4 weeks to issue and supply the prescription through an external pharmacy delivery service. They will show you how to store, take and dispose of your medication safely.
There are eligibility criteria for certain medications such as biologic injections and oral JAK inhibitors.
Skin cancer tele-dermatology service
We provide a faster skin cancer assessment service using tele-dermatology to assess suspected skin cancers as quickly as possible.
At your appointment a qualified medical photographer will take digital and dermoscopic images of the skin lesion your GP has referred. These images are securely sent to a dermatologist for remote review to decide whether you need to come into hospital for further treatment. You will not see a doctor face‑to‑face during this visit.
Your appointment will take around 25 minutes. You may be asked about your medical history and may need to remove jewellery, makeup, or items of clothing so the photographer can access the area being assessed. Chaperones are available on request for sensitive areas.
Images are securely stored in your Electronic Patient Record and reviewed by the Dermatology team.
You will be contacted with your results within seven working days, and a further appointment or referral may be booked for you.
If we are unable to reach you by phone, a letter will be sent within 14 days confirming the next steps or advising that you have been discharged from the service.
Not everyone is suitable to be assessed using our tele-dermatology service, as a face to face clinic would be more appropriate and you will be booked in to see a consultant.
Frequently asked questions about our tele-dermatology service
Do I need to give permission for photographs to be taken?
The medical photographer will discuss consent with you in detail to ensure you are comfortable with the photographs being taken and how your clinical images will be used. If you are happy to proceed, you will be required to provide:
- verbal consent for clinical photographs to be used as part of your treatment
We will not take any photographs without your permission.
You may be able to withdraw your consent by contacting the Medical Illustration department, however images which have been used for clinical decisions, diagnosis or treatment cannot be removed from your healthcare record. Consent can be withdrawn when given for additional purposes outside of clinical treatment, however photographs that have previously been authorised for publication may not be able to be withdrawn if they are already in the public domain.
Retracting consent will not affect your treatment or any future treatment you may receive.
How will I find out the result of this photographic procedure?
You should receive a letter in the post within two to three weeks of your visit or a telephone call asking you to attend a face-to-face consultation.
If you have not heard from the team, or are concerned about changes in your lesion, please contact them.
Does an urgent follow up appointment or surgery mean I have cancer?
No. You could be asked to come back urgently for a number of reasons. Urgent appointments will generally be seen within a few weeks, so there should not be a long wait.
How can you reduce your risk of skin cancer?
It is recognised that unprotected exposure to UV radiation can increase your risk of skin cancer. It is therefore important to be careful in the sun.
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) have compiled the following ‘Top Sun Safety Tips':
- Protect your skin with adequate clothing, wear a hat that protects your face, neck and ears, and a pair of UV protective sunglasses
- Choose sun protective clothing (with permanently sun-protective fabric, widely available for adults and children) if you have fair skin or many moles
- Spend time in the shade between 11am – 3pm when it's sunny
- Step out of the sun before your skin has a chance to redden or burn
- When choosing a sunscreen look for a high protection SPF (current recommendations are SPR 50 or 50+) to protect against UVB, and the UVA circle logo and/or 4 or 5 UVA stars to protect against UVA
- Apply plenty of sunscreen 15 – 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply every two hours and straight after swimming and towel-drying
- Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight
- Sunscreens are not an alternative to clothing and shade, rather they offer additional protection (no sunscreen will provide 100% protection)
- Do not use sunbeds