Skin Analytics and Together First 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, the borough’s GP Federation. The partnership brings DERM, a medical grade AI skin cancer assessment tool, directly into Barking Community Hospital CDC, reducing the need for GP appointments and referrals as well as cutting down wait times for urgent checks.
DERM is the first autonomous AI system for skin cancer detection. 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.
Already used across NHS primary and secondary care to triage and assess skin lesions for cancer, this rollout marks the first time the technology will be used in primary care in North East London. Patients will be able to book assessments online instead of waiting weeks for a hospital referral.
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: “Early diagnosis is critical in saving lives from skin cancer, but long wait times mean many patients are left in limbo. By bringing DERM into GP surgeries, we’re making fast, accurate assessments available in local communities. This is not just about technology – it’s about making sure people get the care they need, when they need it.”
Craig Nicolic, Chief Operating Officer at Together First, added: “Barking & Dagenham has high healthcare demand and limited 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 145,000 NHS patients, detecting more than 14,000 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.
For more information on Skin Analytics visit www.skin-analytics.com.
