Request further information via telephone or email
- You could call this patient to confirm the points of history as provided by the patient
- You could also establish whether this mole is an 'ugly duckling' and different to others that the patient may have
- You could also ask for further images to be submitted if the first image is not clear
You might also wish to ask about previous sun exposure which would be useful information for referral
Ultimately, though this patient needs to be referred for assessment by a skin specialist
Arrange a face-to-face assessment with the patient
- You could see the patient to examine them face-to-face or ask that they make an appointment to see one of your GP colleagues at the surgery
- At this appointment the clinician seeing the patient would wish to confirm the history and examination findings thus far established
- They could also confirm whether this mole is an 'ugly duckling' and different to other moles that the patient may have
- You could also elicit a history of sun exposure which would be useful information for onward referral
- After seeing this patient, you would still ultimately want to refer him to see a skin specialist and would include a full description of the history and examination findings you have elicited along with clear digital photographs
Refer the patient to secondary care
- You have satisfied yourself that there are recent changes to a long-standing and stable mole, and this is a source of real clinical concern: it suggests that this is an atypical mole
- You refer the patient to a secondary care skin specialist including all the details of history and examination you have elicited, along with a clear digital photograph
