Staff at Lancashire hospitals have been praised for their “well thought-out and executed education programme” at national awards.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance came out on top in the Dermatology Education Programmes for Healthcare Professionals category at the 2024 Quality in Care (QiC) Dermatology Awards.

A QiC is given out to schemes recognised by the NHS, patients and industry as improving the quality of life for people living with skin conditions.

Their GP Education to Ensure Optimisation of Skin Cancer Pathways initiative was praised for ‘bridging a gap for early detection.’

Alongside this, it was commended for a “well thought out and executed education programme with a vision for future exploration of effectiveness.”

Syed Ahsan Raza, a GP partner and skin cancer transformational GP lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “A lot of work has gone into this educational programme, and has so far been really well received.

“I want to congratulate the whole team, and everyone involved on their success.”

In its fourth year, the ceremony celebrated healthcare innovation and the category where the care board won recognises initiatives that deliver innovative education for healthcare professionals.

Ken McAlister, a maxillofacial surgeon and clinical lead for skin cancer at the Cancer Alliance, said: “The initiative was developed to support healthcare professionals in recognising and managing common dermatological conditions, including skin cancer.

“We believe it is extremely useful and it is great to see it receive national recognition.”

QiC Dermatology is supported by the British Skin Foundation, Irish Association of Dermatologists, the Primary Care Dermatology Society and Psychodermatology UK.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board is the statutory NHS organisation responsible for developing plans to meet the population's health needs, managing the NHS budget and arranging for the provision of health services across the region.