A five-step approach to safer skin surgery

Smith,Hayley; Bhutani,Raman; Mitra,Angana; Goulden,Victoria; Hussain,Walayat; Rahim,Rajib; Machin,Claire; Stables,Graeme I.

A five-step approach to safer skin surgery

All Authors

Smith,Hayley

Bhutani,Raman

Mitra,Angana

Goulden,Victoria

Hussain,Walayat

Rahim,Rajib

Machin,Claire

Stables,Graeme I.

LTHT Author

Smith, Hayley
Bhutani, Raman
Mitra, Angana
Goulden, Victoria
Hussain, Walayat
Rahim, Rajib
Machin, Claire
Stables, Graeme

LTHT Department

Dermatology

Non Medic

Clinical Specialist Practitioner

Publication Date

2024

Item Type

Article

Abstract

Background: Wrong site skin surgery is a never event with implications for patient well-being, in addition to potential medicolegal ramifications. There is no standardised approach to wrong site surgery (WSS) prevention in the United Kingdom. However, the World Health Organisation surgical checklist and NHS England's safety standards for invasive procedures (NatSSIP) have been useful in guiding the direction of change. Our experience: We describe our experience over the past decade, detailing five cases of WSS including three wrong site biopsies and two re-excisions of the wrong scar. Each provided a learning opportunity, identifying vulnerabilities in the skin surgery pathway. Our five-step approach to safer skin surgery: By reflecting on our experience, we created a simple five-step approach to safer skin surgery which could easily be adopted by other dermatology departments. This includes, developing a Standard operating procedure, requesting a surgical procedure, medical photography, in theatre, and education/governance. Our approach provides a step in the right direction for national standardisation of the skin surgery pathway.