Request further information via telephone or email
- This is an acceptable course of action and you could call this patient to confirm the points of history as provided by the patient
- You could also establish whether this mole is like others that the patient has and ask for further images to be submitted if the first image is not clear
- They could also be useful to place in the patient's notes as a baseline since you will be asking this patient to observe the mole and report any changes in the future
- It would also be a good opportunity to offer general advice on sun protection. At this point, if any uncertainty remains in your mind, or the patient seems unsure, you should arrange for them to see yourself or one of your GP colleagues at the surgery
Arrange a face-to-face assessment with the patient
- This is also an acceptable course of action and 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
- This appointment would also be a good opportunity to give the patient advice about protecting their skin in the sun and keeping an eye on their skin and any moles they might have, and to report any that are new or changing
Refer the patient to secondary care
- It is probably too early to refer this patient to secondary care at this stage
- You have satisfied yourself that this is a long-standing and stable mole which is not causing concern by ABCDE criteria
- You are encouraging the patient to monitor the mole and get in touch with you or their GP if it is changing
- If the patient does get back in touch you would want to take a further careful history and assess the mole (by photograph or in person) using the ABCDE criteria first before making any further onward referral
