Importance of GPs treating skin cancer in primary care

Did you know over 90 per cent of skin cancers in Australia are managed by GPs? Learn more from Dr Tony Azzi about the benefits and importance of providing skin cancer treatments in primary care.

Watch the video with Dr Tony Azzi

Dr Tony Azzi — who is a primary care skin cancer surgeon and an expert instructor for HealthCert's skin cancer surgery workshops — says, "Currently over 90 per cent of skin cancers are managed by GPs.

"Imagine if you started referring all your skin cancer patients onto specialists and hospitals - they wouldn't cope.

"Currently the waiting list is long to get into a public hospital for a skin cancer [treatment]. Where I work in Newcastle, it's next to impossible.

"The bulk of skin cancer in Australia is small and easily managed. It's only a few cases beyond the scope of most people that need to be referred.

"If you start bombarding specialists with every little simple skin cancer that can easily be managed in primary care, then the system's going to fail even further."

How to learn more

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