Skin cancer excision in primary care scare

The Times reports that having skin cancers removed by GPs may not as effective as having it done in hospital by a dermatologist:

Dr Helena Malhomme dela Roche, who carried out the study, said: “The incomplete excision rates for patients with high-risk BCC managed by GPs is unacceptably high at 54 per cent.”

Dr Elisabeth Fraser-Andrews, one of the authors of a study of BCC surgery in Essex, said: “The proportion of BCCs excised in primary care is low, showing that patients receive sub-optimal treatment in primary care compared with secondary care.

The article rightly points out that auditing of GPs practice, especially when it comes to skin cancers, is of vital importance. It does not, however, tell us the size of the study or give GPs the opportunity to respond.