Teledermatology clinic

At the appointment, you will only see a clinical photographer (not a doctor) and they will do the following:

• Ask you some questions about your medical history and your skin lesion(s).
• Explain which photographs they need to take to assess your lesion(s).
• Ask you to remove some of your jewellery and/or make-up if this gives them a better view of your skin lesion(s).
• Ask you to remove some of your clothes if this gives them a better view of your skin lesion(s). If you need to remove clothes covering a sensitive area of your body, you may ask for a Kingston Hospital chaperone.  (A chaperone is someone of the same sex as you who will stay in the room with you).
• Take detailed close up photographs of your skin lesion(s) using a specialised camera lens. They will press the camera lens gently against the surface of your skin. This is usually painless, but please tell the photographer if is too uncomfortable.

The teledermatology clinic appointment usually takes about 30 minutes.

The clinical photographer can only take photographs of lesions that are documented on your GP referral letter.

Speak to the clinical photographer if you have questions about the photography or about the role of Skin Analytics.

Skin lesion(s) that cannot be seen clearly 

Occasionally it is not possible to photograph a skin lesion. Examples include lesions that are covered in hair or hidden under fingernails or toenails. The photographer will tell you if this is the case.

Sometimes they may be able to take digital photographs using a different digital camera and send them to a Kingston Hospital dermatologist rather than to Skin Analytics. In some cases, the photographer will need to arrange an appointment with a hospital dermatologist without taking any photographs.

About Skin Analytics

Skin Analytics is an external company which uses an artificial intelligence (AI) computer programme to examine and assess the digital photographs of your skin lesion(s). The AI computer programme is called DERM.

DERM can recognise skin cancer and a range of common harmless skin conditions. It will assess whether you need to see a dermatologist about your skin lesion(s).
After reviewing your skin lesion(s), it writes a report for the Kingston Hospital dermatology team.

For more information about Skin Analytics and their use of data see the ‘How does Skin Analytics use my data?’ section below.

Skin Analytics and use of your data

The digital photographs we take at the teledermatology clinic are only sent to Skin Analytics if you give verbal permission for us to do this during your teledermatology appointment.

Skin Analytics will store your data securely. This data may include:

• medical history 
• digital photographs
• name
• date of birth
• NHS number
• information collected during the assessment
• subsequent diagnoses relating to your assessed lesions.

Skin Analytics uses your data for the following purposes:

• to assess your skin lesion(s) and write a report about your skin lesion(s).
• to send a report to the Kingston Hospital dermatology team so they can provide further treatment (if you need it)
• to send the report to your GP so that it can be added to your medical records
• to review the report for quality assurance purposes.

If Skin Analytics uses your data for research purposes, it will be fully anonymized (it will not include your identity).

• Information about Skin Analytics' privacy policy

Permission for digital photographs 

You need to give permission (consent) before we take any photographs.

Before they begin, the clinical photographer will explain which photographs they need to take. If you are happy to proceed, they will ask you to give:

• Written consent for clinical photography during your teledermatology clinic appointment.
• Verbal consent for Skin Analytics to review the photographs.

We will not take photographs without your consent.

You can withdraw your consent at any time during the session or afterwards by contacting us (see Contacts section below).

Your digital photographs 

After your appointment the photographs of your skin lesion(s) will be saved securely and uploaded to your Kingston Hospital Electronic Patient Record.

They will also be encrypted (protected) and securely transferred electronically to Skin Analytics so they can be analysed by its DERM computer programme.

Skin Analytics will send its assessment to the Kingston Hospital dermatology team who will read it and review your clinical photographs.

The Kingston Hospital dermatology team will send you a letter explaining your results.  They usually do this within 21 working days.

They will let you know if you need to come to hospital for further assessment or treatment or if you do not need further treatment.

If you need further assessment or treatment, the hospital will send a letter to you and your GP explaining  how to manage your skin lesion(s). They may also offer you an appointment (in person or online).

Contact the dermatology team if you have not heard after 3 weeks (see Contacts section below).

Copies of your digital photographs

To obtain a copy of your photographs, download and complete a health records form.  

If you are not able to download a form, you can visit the PALS office near the main entrance of Kingston hospital.

Send your completed form to the Health Records Access Supervisor or the Head of Information Governance/Data Protection Officer (see Further information below).

Deleting your digital photographs

If a doctor uses your digital photographs to make a clinical decision, they cannot be deleted. However, you can ask that they are hidden from view on your Electronic Patient Record. They will remain hidden until you give us your permission to view them again.

If you decide not to give consent for your photographs to be visible on your Electronic Patient Record, this will not affect your treatment or any future treatment you may receive.

If you agreed that we can use your photographs in public (for example, on our website), you cannot later withdraw them after they have been published.

Make a GP appointment if you notice any change in your skin lesion(s) or are concerned about other lesions or skin problems.

Further information

Kingston Hospital Medical Photography Department
Princess Alexandra Wing (Dental)
Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.45pm
020 8934 2352
khft.photos@nhs.net

Health Records Access Supervisor
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Galsworthy Road, Kingston KT2 7QB
Health Records - Kingston Hospital

Head of Information Governance and Data Protection Officer
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Galsworthy Road, Kingston KT2 7QB
020 8934 5292

If more information is needed for diagnosis 

If the dermatology team needs more information to make a diagnosis, they may ask you to do one of the following.

• Come into the hospital for a biopsy (skin sample) or to have the skin lesion(s) removed surgically.
• Come into the hospital for a face to face clinical appointment with a dermatologist.
• Arrange a date for a video or telephone consultation.

Urgent treatment for skin lesions

If you are asked to attend an urgent follow-up appointment it does not necessarily mean that you have cancer.

Skin lesions can be caused by many different things.

Non-urgent treatment for skin lesions

If your skin lesion(s) require non-urgent treatment, the Kingston Hospital dermatology team will contact your GP to ask them to arrange treatment for you.

No further treatment for skin lesions

If your skin lesion(s) do not require further treatment, we will do one of the following.

• Invite you for a routine follow up appointment at the Kingston Hospital Dermatology Department so we can check your lesion(s).
• Invite you for a further teledermatology photography session to make sure your lesion(s) still do not need treatment.
• Send a clinic letter to you and your GP saying that you do not need hospital treatment for your lesion(s).

Make a GP appointment if you notice any change in your skin lesion(s) or are concerned about other lesions or skin problems.