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This article -- the second in their series -- looks at remote consultations, providing a summary of what they are in relation to patients with skin conditions and detailing the guidance that has been developed by the Dermatology National Outpatients Transformation Programme, which it is hoped will lead to more personalised care in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the third article in a short series looking at how proposals put forward in the NHS Long Term Plan will affect patients. This article looks at referral optimisation, and the work of the National Outpatient Transformation Programme to support implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NHS Long Term Plan is a commitment to redesign services by putting the patient firmly in the centre of their care. This article - the first in a short series - focuses on the development of a Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) for people with skin conditions, which it is hoped will formalise the process of re-accessing care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staff at the University of Hertfordshire have adapted their teaching methods in light of the COVID-19 crisis. This article considers how things have changed over the last few months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving world of the NHS, Teledermatology (TD) using store and forward technology may be seen by some as a cost-effective solution to deal with demand for dermatology services in a timely fashion and to reduce visits to secondary care. As such it is being increasingly considered by primary care commissioners reviewing their dermatology pathways. The Department of Health has consequently hosted an independent multi-professional group to establish guidance on TD. The outcome of this work now supplements Quality Standards for Dermatology: Providing the Right Care for People with Skin Conditions launched by the British Association of Dermatologists in 2011. The document contains eight standards, key points of which are summarised below. Each standard comprises a series of recommendations with a rationale for each and background information and further information where appropriate. 1. Models of Teledermatology services: TD services should be developed around patient needs within a local service with clear pathways and links between levels of care and specialisms. This may involve a triage system, full substitution for standard face to face consultation, or an intermediate system allowing for advice only or integration with secondary care services as appropriate. The type of TD service should be clearly identified and an agreed tariff established. 2. Selection of patients: The type of service will determine the range of appropriate patients. For patients with pigmented lesions, dermoscopic images should ideally be included. 3. Informed consent: Legal consents are required prior to taking and subsequent use of images. Consent must be retained for as long as images are held. 4. Competent staff: Healthcare professionals involved in TD should have equal competence to those involved with non-TD referrals. For those in photographic roles training and feedback are important together with auditing of skills. standards as set out in legal and professional guidance on the holding, storage and transfer of patient data, TD records should be auditable and accessible as part of the patient record and as 'stand-alone' data. 8. Audit and quality control: In order to assess quality, TD services should complete at least one patient survey and one audit per year. These standards will be launched by Spring 2013 and it is hoped that they will be adopted as best practice throughout the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on her career as a dermatologist and receiving the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award. She relates her career decision to shift general practice to dermatology, as well as some of the advantages associated with being a part-time trainee in dermatology. Information on the author's views on developing general practitioners with special interests (GPwSIs) is provided. She highlights her efforts to pursue the right person, right place, right time concept in dermatology.