Purpose
DermCAP exists to address a structural gap in primary care skin cancer diagnosis.
Most clinicians encounter skin lesions every week, yet very few receive structured, supervised training in dermoscopy once they leave formal education. This creates pressure: pressure to decide quickly, pressure to refer defensively, and pressure that can quietly accumulate into rising referral rates and clinician anxiety.
DermCAP was designed to address this gap safely, realistically, and at scale.
What DermCAP Is
DermCAP (Dermoscopy Capacity Acceleration Programme) is a 13-month, governance-led clinical apprenticeship for primary care clinicians.
Rather than short courses or one-off teaching days, DermCAP builds diagnostic capability through mentored, real-world practice, supported by clear safety boundaries and ongoing supervision.
The programme includes:
- – Calibration month and baseline assessment
- – Supervised spot clinic activity embedded in routine practice
- – Structured mentoring and feedback on real cases
- – Explicit escalation and stop/go criteria
- – Monthly activity and outcome reporting
Why DermCAP Was Created
DermCAP was developed by a UK GP with over 30 years’ experience in primary care, following direct observation of the widening gap between dermatology demand and diagnostic support available to front-line clinicians
Existing approaches often focus downstream, managing referrals once uncertainty has already occurred. DermCAP was deliberately designed upstream — to strengthen diagnostic decision-making before referral happens
Alignment with NHS & ICB Priorities
DermCAP is designed to align with current NHS and Integrated Care Board priorities, including:
- – Reducing unnecessary secondary care referrals
- – Improving appropriateness of urgent skin cancer pathways
- – Supporting workforce development and retention
- – Delivering measurable outcomes within a clear governance framework
The programme is designed to be value-positive even under conservative assumptions, with transparent reporting to allow commissioners to assess safety, effectiveness, and impact over time.
Governance & Patient Safety
Clinical governance is central to DermCAP.
The programme operates within defined safety boundaries, including:
- – Supervised decision-making during early stages
- – Clear escalation pathways for uncertain or high-risk lesions
- – Explicit stop/go thresholds for continued participation
- – Ongoing mentoring designed to build capability without creating dependency
Patient safety remains the priority at every stage of the programme.
Evidence-Informed Approach
DermCAP is informed by real-world primary care audit data, published dermoscopy literature, and established apprenticeship models used in other clinical disciplines.
Detailed audit data, governance documentation, and outcome metrics are available to commissioners on request.
Who DermCAP Is For
DermCAP is commissioned at system level and delivered through general practices and primary care organisations.
It is not a direct-to-consumer course and is not designed for unsupervised or accelerated credentialing. Participation is contingent on commissioner oversight and agreed governance arrangements.