Published on 18 August 2026
A pioneering programme to transform suspected skin cancer pathways across Cheshire and Merseyside has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2026 HSJ Awards.
The programme, led by Cheshire and Merseyside Provider Collaborative’s Dermatology Clinical Alliance, with support from Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA), has been recognised in the Clinical Pathway Redesign and Using AI to Enhance Care Quality and Efficiency categories.
It recognises collaborative work to introduce Skin Analytics’ DERM artificial intelligence technology into urgent suspected skin cancer pathways, helping patients receive faster assessment while making better use of specialist dermatology capacity.
CMCA has played an instrumental role in supporting the rollout of the pathway, working with providers to build engagement and help embed the model across local services. It has also funded several posts that directly support the AI-enabled service.
The DERM AI pathway has now been implemented across six NHS trusts. All providers are operating autonomously, meaning results assessed by the AI as benign no longer require a second clinician read, while systems remain in place to ensure patients with suspicious lesions are prioritised appropriately.
The pathway is already helping reduce unnecessary face-to-face appointments, improve cancer pathway performance and increase diagnostic throughput, while enabling earlier access for routine patients.
Some providers are also building on the AI pathway by introducing virtual triage clinics. At University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG), the combined model enables patients to be assessed more efficiently so people with the highest clinical need can be prioritised for face-to-face review, while lower-risk or benign lesions can be managed through alternative pathways.
Virtual triage supports earlier clinical decision-making, reduces unnecessary outpatient appointments, improves patient convenience by minimising travel and hospital visits, and helps maximise the use of limited dermatology capacity.
By directing patients to the most appropriate pathway first time – including direct to procedure, urgent clinic, routine care or discharge where appropriate – the service is streamlining patient flow and strengthening the sustainability of the skin cancer pathway.
In June 2026, the pathway at UHLG achieved an 83% face-to-face avoidance rate, demonstrating the significant impact of the virtual triage model in reducing unnecessary outpatient attendances while maintaining timely assessment and clinical decision-making.
Building on this progress, CMCA is now supporting other providers across the region to embed the DERM AI virtual triage model within their own suspected skin cancer pathways.
Jon Hayes, Managing Director of CMCA, said: “We would like to congratulate colleagues across Cheshire and Merseyside Provider Collaborative’s Dermatology Clinical Alliance and participating Trusts on this national recognition for partnership working and innovation in patient care.
“By working together on this important project, we are helping to standardise best practice, reduce unwarranted variation and enable similar improvements in patient experience, pathway efficiency and clinical capacity across the wider system – helping more people access timely assessment and treatment closer to home.”
This year’s HSJ Awards received more than 1,300 entries, with 231 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist. The winners of the 2026 HSJ Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday November 19th.