Skin Analytics and Together First CIC partner to bring pioneering AI technology to primary care for over 200,000 patients in the region
Residents in Barking & Dagenham now have faster, more accurate access to skin cancer checks thanks to a new partnership between Skin Analytics and Together First CIC, the borough’s GP Federation. The partnership has brought DERM, AI as a medical device, directly into the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Barking Community Hospital (BCH), reducing the need for GP appointments and referrals as well as cutting down wait times for patients.
DERM is the first AI system for skin cancer detection approved for autonomous use. It can analyse moles and skin lesions for signs of cancer without needing a doctor to review the case first. The AI has been trained on a vast dataset of skin images, allowing it to rule out cancer with 99.8% accuracy – exceeding the typical 98.9% achieved by dermatologists.
DERM is a AI as a Medical Device that is used across NHS primary and secondary care to assess and triage skin lesions for cancer. This rollout marks the first time the technology has been used in primary care in London. GP practices are now able to directly book assessments at CDC imaging hubs, giving patients an immediate appointment time and date. This will help to improve equality of access and avoid the need to wait weeks for a hospital referral, bypassing GP appointments which are freed up for other patients in need
As healthcare systems worldwide buckle under unprecedented dermatologist shortages with patients waiting months for potentially life-saving skin cancer checks. In the UK alone NHS England says urgent skin cancer referrals have skyrocketed 170% in the last decade while 11% of urgent cases wait over a month just to be seen.
Neil Daly, CEO of Skin Analytics, said: “Access to skin cancer services is critical to early detection which will save more lives. By deploying DERM into the community in CDCs, we’re making fast accurate assessments available in local communities. Given the challenge nationally to access dermatology care, we’re proud to work with Barking & Dagenham to make sure people get the care they need, when they need it.”
Craig Nikolic, Chief Executive Officer at Together First, added: “Barking & Dagenham has very high demand on existing specialist resources. By using AI to detect skin cancer earlier, we can reduce unnecessary hospital visits and get urgent cases seen sooner. This is a game-changer for our community.”
DERM has been used in NHS pathways that have assessed over 170,000 NHS patients, detecting more than 15,500 cases of skin cancer. In existing NHS deployments, it has reduced the number of urgent in-person dermatologist appointments by up to 95%, ensuring that specialists focus on the most at-risk patients.
How it works
- Instant AI assessment – The AI analyses the lesion and provides an immediate recommendation to healthcare assistants on whether a patient can be quickly discharged (for benign lesions) or whether a specialist referral is needed.
- Reducing unnecessary referrals – If the AI determines a lesion is not cancerous, patients can avoid hospital visits entirely and be discharged, or be treated for other skin conditions within the community.
- Prioritising urgent cases – Patients flagged as at risk can be fast-tracked for treatment to the care of dermatologists.
