Dermatologists working in the NHS are calling for an artificial intelligence (AI) roadmap to help them navigate the use of assistive technology as its use becomes increasingly mainstream.
A new report from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) highlights the need for urgent action and urges the Government and regulators to implement changes that ensure patient safety while promoting the adoption of suitable AI technology.
Without stronger regulation and targeted workforce training, there is a concern that the promise of diagnostic AI in dermatology outlined in the new NHS 10-year plan will not be effectively harnessed. Underpinned by both the need to innovate while improving patient outcomes, the report identifies five urgent priorities for policymakers: a clear regulatory framework, investment in digital infrastructure, better data quality and diversity, clearer market signals for developers, and enhanced training for healthcare professionals.
Dermatology waiting lists on the rise
AI technology is already being used in many NHS settings. As demand for dermatology services increases, dermatologists are urging national policymakers to take decisive action to help alleviate this burden. One in four people in England and Wales visit their GP for a dermatologically related condition every year. Since January 2025, the waiting list for dermatology services has been 118% above its July 2020 level – one of the highest increases among all clinical specialities.
One major driver of this pressure is the sharp rise in urgent skin cancer referrals. Over the last decade, referrals have jumped by 170%, but according to NHS data, only 6% of referrals result in a confirmed skin cancer diagnosis. The remaining cases are either benign or non-urgent but place a significant burden on already stretched services, as well as contributing to patient anxiety.
Dr Rubeta Matin, consultant dermatologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and chair of the BAD’s AI Working Party Group, said: ‘Diagnostic AI has huge promise across many disease areas in dermatology, but we are keen to see if it can safely triage and reduce the huge number of patients referred with a suspected skin cancer who don’t need to be seen. If it can, this would significantly ease capacity pressures and help ensure that those who do need care are seen more quickly.’
Clinical input for diagnostic AI development and adoption
The report authors said that ‘it is not inevitable that diagnostic AI in dermatology will improve current services’ and warned that innovation and the implementation of AI in dermatology must be done without exacerbating existing pressures or inequalities.
Dr Tamara Griffiths, president of the BAD, commented: ‘We are fortunate to have an innovative and dynamic AI industry in the UK, but it needs support and unambiguous signals from the NHS about the type of tools which are required.’
She continued: ‘In return, the NHS needs a clear regulatory framework and appropriate clinical input to ensure it is adopting tools which are relevant and safe. Most importantly, we need to ensure that when AI is adopted, it improves the overall patient experience and outcomes in terms of safety, convenience, and waiting times.’
Commenting after the launch of the NHS 10-year plan, she noted that while ‘dermatology is seen as especially well-positioned to capitalise on technologies like teledermatology and AI diagnostics’, its potential ‘will only be realised with the right regulation, digital infrastructure and clinical safeguards in place’.
‘Without these, such tools risk falling short of expectations,’ she concluded.
A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication Nursing in Practice.
