Y'day I performed the first Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) excision under the @ni_gpecs BCC pathway. This pilot, in collab with @setrust & @NHSCTrust allows some GPs to remove low-risk BCCs in primary care, easing secondary care pressures. A milestone for GP-led derm care @healthdpt

Listening to @SiobhanKirk15 on eve extra and she is so correct We were well ahead of the rest of the UK on this until we unbelievably cut funding to the GP federation clinics We should be growing and developing these not cutting them The solutions are there, we just miss them

The @LibDems & @EdwardJDavey are right. GPs across Britain are worried about the impact of the NI hike on patient care. We need urgent reassurance from @Keir_Starmer, @wesstreeting, and @DHSCgovuk that GP funding will not be put under further pressure. #PMQs #TeamGP #RebuildGP

Many many congratulations @emmaoconnor1979 what a wonderful day celebrating outstanding achievements👏👏

I feel these findings suggest a need for targeted interventions to improve primary care training/awareness in melanoma, esp. concerning older patients. This could ensure detection at the earliest/most treatable stage, and help @healthdpt address potential health inequalities here

⬇️ Red Flag referral rates for pts >75yrs in NI, despite high incidence nationally, could indicate a huge issue in our NHS. Could some older pts not be referred as 🚩due to assumptions about their overall health, vague symptomatology or is it due to difficulty accessing the #nhs?

There was a statistically significant difference between red flag referral rates for pts <65 🆚 75+. We know that the incidence of MM globally increases with age, highest rates in people aged 85 - 89👴🏻👵🏽. 29% of all MM cases in UK are normally diagnosed in people >74(@CR_UK data)

The data shows patients referred through non-'Red Flag' ❌🚩routes received a diagnosis with worse stage of disease (41.9% with stage 4 disease). This is extremely concerning and perhaps this outcome could be a consequence of our long wait times⏳ for non-'red flag' cases here.

It is likely the observed survival rates could be attributed to better awareness, advanced treatments with our secondary care colleagues, and early detection efforts such as those by @actioncancer and the primary care phototriage service.

#NICR report = improvement in #Melanoma survival rates, yet highlights a worrying trend: Over 1/4 of lesions in N.I. are diagnosed outside Red Flag pathways ⁉️ Is there potential gaps in ref. processes, especially for the elderly? 🚨 action needed to address health inequalities.

Also great to see @QUBelfast & @DrGerryG s realistic melanoma tattoos as seen on @BBCNewsNI Fantastic idea for raising #melanomaawareness, connecting @QUBMedEd students with a sense of living with visible cancer & allowing for ⬆️ empathy in clinics 👏🏻 @ucddublin @HuddersfieldUni

It was a privilege to speak at the inaugural @actioncancer international skin cancer conference🔍 Early detection was echoed by every speaker as key🔑Our @healthdpt minister @mikenesbittni is up for the challenge to tackle health inequalities across the region #forbetteroutcomes

For anyone wondering why I was wearing a Uruguay jersey with Bentancur on the back 😢😢😢 #COYS

NEWSFLASH 🚨 .... It appears that properly funded general practices with good continuity of care improves patient life expectancy.... Who would have thought 🧐. I trust that @healthdpt & @BMANI_GP are taking this into account as they negotiate a contract that is fit for purpose.

You’re right Robin, it’s not about you. But it is about us, and our health is being failed yet again - Deirdre Heenan @deirdreheenan https://t.co/CEq8ocu6HN

An important thread for healthcare in NI. Imagine building an award winning service from the ground up, attractive to trainees, loved by patients and colleagues alike - only to have it de-funded by our current health Department. How demoralising.

#NIhealthcareawards2024 @mcentee_siobhan @sinead1306 @drjohndiamond @ni_gpecs @healthdpt @UCBUSA

Recently funding/activity ⏬to 50%. Our leaders (@healthdpt , @RobinSwann_MLA @BMA_NI ) need to recognise the importance of this multi-award winning service and fund it properly. An effective primary care will be the backbone in rebuilding our broken NI #NHS Time is running out!

🔼capacity in primary care = ⏬ in demand for routine 2dary care service across NI. @ni_gpecs has been shown in surveys to 🔼recruitment and likelihood of retention of doctors in primary care. We have an extremely high levels of patient satisfaction.

99% of all practices in NI have made a referral to us. Furthermore, 98% of GPs agree that working in GPECS makes GP more attractive. We have won 2 national awards for excellence in the last 18 months. We produced regional guidelines and a comprehensive webinar series recently.