• T W Andrew, M Alrawi, and P Lovat.
• Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Newcastle University Trust Hospitals, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
• Clin. Exp. Dermatol. 2021 Jan 1; 46 (1): 145-146.

AbstractThe UK healthcare system, including skin cancer departments, has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite service capacity and a worldwide increase in incidence, anecdotal reports suggest a decline in skin cancer diagnoses following COVID-19. To determine if there has been a decrease in skin cancer diagnosis in the UK in the COVID-19 era, we analysed data from the Northern Cancer Network from 23 March 2020 to 23 June 2020 and compared it with the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID). In the COVID period, there was a decrease of 68.61% in skin cancer diagnoses, from 3619 to 1136 (P < 0.01). Surprisingly, skin cancer waiting times were also reduced in the COVID period compared to the pre-COVID period (median of 8 and 12 days, respectively; P < 0.001). Collectively, these data highlight a statistically significant reduction in both skin cancer diagnoses and waiting times during the COVID period.© 2020 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists.

16 keywords...

hide…