Ninety 'red flag' slots in NI for suspected skin cancer weekly - a rise of almost one third

The number of urgent referrals for suspected skin cancer in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has increased by almost one third, board members have been told.

A meeting of the Trust board at Antrim Hospital last week heard that “red flag demand” has risen by 32 per cent.

Audrey Harris, the Northern Trust’s divisional director medicine and emergency medicine, said there are 90 “red flag” slots for patients per week and 150 referrals.

Triage by photographs submitted by GPs also takes place. Members heard that however, there can be “issue with photo quality”. Members were also told in the Northern Trust, the dermatology team is “very small with staff challenges over the last number of years”.

Meanwhile, the number of patients has risen from 7,009 in 2022/23 to 9,239 during 2023/24.

Separately, in October, three tanning shops in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough failed a test purchase by environmental health officers accompanied by a young person under 18 years who attempted to purchase a sunbed session, resulting in three fixed penalty notices being issued against two premises.

The other ”non-compliant” premises had recently changed ownership and as the new owners had not received an advisory visit to explain their legal responsibilities, it was decided to issue a written warning with a follow-up “educational” visit.

The Public Health Agency has recommended all sunbed operators be subject to a test purchase by local councils at least once every two years. The Sunbeds Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 prohibits the use, sale, and rental of sunbeds to individuals under the age of 18.

The Sunbeds Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 places a duty on each district council to enforce the legislation and includes measures to ensure that a public information notice of health risks is displayed; ensure users are provided with written information on the health risks; ensure adequate protective eyewear is provided and prohibit operators making unfounded/unproven health benefit claims of sunbed use.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Northern Ireland and accounts for one in four of all cancers.

Care in the Sun, which was set up as part of the Department of Health’s Northern Ireland Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy, states that the risk of melanoma skin cancer is “significantly increased” when use of tanning devices starts before 35 years of age.

It says modern sunbeds emit greater doses of UV rays than tropical midday sun.

It is estimated in the UK, approximately 100 people die each year from melanoma skin cancers that are due to sunbed use with two to three deaths per year in Northern Ireland.

Care in the Sun says research shows people who have used a sunbed at least once at any stage in their life have a 20% higher risk of developing melanoma skin cancer than people who have never used a sunbed.

It also notes sunbed use can be harmful to eyesight. Without suitable eye protection, UV radiation from sunbeds can damage the user’s eyes, risk eye inflammation, cataract formation, and, in some cases, eye cancer or ocular melanoma.