Dermatology – Bridgewater Community Healthcare
Tackling Dermatology Backlogs at Bridgewater Community Healthcare
The Challenge
Like many NHS providers, BCH faced rising demand, workforce shortages, and increasing dermatology waiting lists. Two pressures were particularly urgent:
- Routine backlog: A waiting list of 600 patients requiring surgery, including 300 who had waited more than 18 weeks.
- Cancer performance: The need to maintain two-week wait standards for urgent cancer referrals despite limited internal capacity.
The Trust required additional capacity to clear the backlog while ensuring cancer patients continued to be treated within national targets.
Our Solution
Through the SBS Framework, DMC Healthcare was contracted to deliver face-to-face consultant-led dermatology surgery activity in Warrington. The service was designed to integrate seamlessly with BCH systems and governance processes, ensuring patient safety and continuity of care.
🟢 Comprehensive managed service: DMC provided the doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and consumables, unlike a locum agency model.
🟢 Range of activity: Biopsies, histology, and post-biopsy surgeries.
🟢 Strong partnership: Weekly meetings and close collaboration ensured smooth mobilisation and effective integration with BCH teams.
🟢 Rapid mobilisation: DMC developed a detailed mobilisation plan, led by the Medical Director, with site visits and engagement across clinicians, nurses, and administrative staff.
Achieved Results
The partnership delivered significant operational and patient benefits.
✅ Backlog of 600 surgical patients cleared within 5 months
✅ Two-week wait performance maintained throughout the contract
✅ Strong working relationship established beyond contractual requirements
✅ Service reduced from 7 days a week to 3 days a week once pressures stabilised
✅ Fully managed service embedded within BCH processes and IT systems
Testimonial