Effect of COVID-19 on skin cancer care

Please see a statement below from BAPRAS Member Abhilash Jain regarding a recent national skin cancer project:

Plastic surgeons have investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on skin cancer care in the UK. One hundred and twenty four surgeons from 34 centres collected data on over 2000 patients undergoing surgery for melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas between March and June 2020. Data showed that the pandemic dramatically reduced the number of cases being treated and those operated on received care as per COVID guidelines. Researchers also showed that skin cancer surgery was safe to undertake during the pandemic, with less than 1% of patients developing COVID-19 in the post-operative period. Skin cancer services were rapidly adapted to allow social distancing, through the innovate use of video and telephone appointments in 90% of plastic surgery units. The study has been accepted for publication in the British Journal of Surgery.