​Following the successful launch in 2024, Healix Health has enhanced its specialist skin cancer screening service with private hospital operator Circle Health Group. The improved pathway will offer Healix members an enhanced dermatology assessment from the comfort of their own home with the reassurance of fast access to face-to-face appointments across the Circle Health Group hospital network if further investigation is required.
Following approval for the virtual pathway, a home screening kit is sent directly to the customer. A key enhancement to the service is the inclusion of a specialist smartphone, dermoscopic lens and digital platform provided by Skin Analytics, designed to improve image quality and support faster clinical review, helping to reduce delays and uncertainty for patients. Using the kit, customers can securely submit images of up to three moles or skin concerns for review.
Images submitted through the pathway are reviewed by a specialist GMC-registered dermatologist. On average, patients receive their results through the platform within one working day of submitting their images on the platform, alongside guidance on any next steps following the dermatologist’s assessment.
Where further investigation is required, patients are contacted within two working days and offered a face-to-face appointment at their nearest Circle Health Group hospital. With access to more than 50 facilities across the UK, the pathway provides patients with convenient access to specialist dermatology support nationwide.
Initially focused on skin cancer and suspicious moles, lesions and skin changes, the pathway is planned to evolve to encompass broader dermatology support, providing customers with a more comprehensive service for a wider range of skin health concerns.
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive Officer of Healix Health, said: “Cancer is one of the biggest cost drivers in corporate healthcare schemes, so a key focus for us is ensuring we can offer our clients an exceptional cancer pathway that supports early detection as well as treatment. Strengthening our skin cancer screening service with Circle Health Group is an important part of that, simplifying access to expert clinical assessment. When it’s easier to get checked, people are more likely to act early, helping them get the support they need sooner and stay healthier at work.”
Paul Manning, Chief Executive Officer of Circle Health Group, said: “Patients across the UK are increasingly looking to access high-quality, fast and convenient services that support them to get the answers they need to their health questions. The expansion of a dedicated skin cancer screening service is evidence of this growing demand and the success of our existing pathway. We welcome the opportunity to continue working with our partners at Healix Health as we look to grow and develop this pathway in the coming months and years.”