ROYAL Bolton Hospital has only one consultant dermatologist creating a waiting list as people are increasingly concerned about skin cancer. 

The consultant is supported by part-time locums but like many trusts around the country the waiting list is growing. 

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is working with colleagues at Salford Royal and Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan to alleviate the problem but the small team at the hospital means recruiting more staff is difficult. 

Su Long, chief officer at Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group told Bolton councillors that they were working towards solving this problem and would be discussing the best way to tackle it in the coming months. 

Ms Long said: "The dermatology services are a service that has a limited workforce in Bolton and Wigan. We are working with Salford - they have a greater number of consultants."

She told councillors that while Salford had more staff, it was a specialist service and had a much larger number of people requiring its services so had its own waiting lists. 

Ms Long told councillors at the health overview meeting that in the past working with Salford to recruit staff had worked in the A&E department and they were hoping to do something similar for dermatology. 

She added: "It would be fair to say there's been a reluctance from consultant dermatology to train up other professions but now they are realising how low their numbers are."

It is likely there will be more specially trained nurses and GPs dealing with skin condition complaints in the future. 

Despite the low number of dermatologists in Bolton Ms Long stressed "the service is safe" but that "growing demand" was the main issue. 

She explained to councillors that a rising awareness of the dangers and signs of skin cancer was largely driving the demand.

Ms Long said: "There's a growing demand causing a waiting list, we had more cover but it only takes one or two to leave to cause an issue. 

"It's a national issue, not just in Bolton. 

"In terms of skin cancer, anyone who goes to the GP with a mole is referred on a two-week referral route and those waits are being met. They are the priority.

"A lot that are seen to be less urgent are then waiting."