• Reference Number: HEY-1375-2023
• Departments: Dermatology
• Last Updated: 1 April 2023

Introduction

This advice sheet has been produced to give you general information about the Dermatology Skin Cancer Key Worker Team.  It is not meant to replace discussion between you and your doctor.  If after reading it, you require further explanation please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for you.

What is the function of the Key Worker Team?

The skin cancer Key Worker team are members of the multidisciplinary team involved in your care.  They have the knowledge to provide information and support to help meet your and your carers’ needs.

How your Key Workers can help you

They can provide:

• An opportunity to explain the information you have been given

• Further information and support that you may need

• Support for you and your family

• A link with other healthcare professionals involved in your care

• Specialist nursing advice

• Symptom control and management

How your Key Workers can be contacted

Your Key Workers are based in the Dermatology Department at Castle Hill Hospital and can be contacted on a telephone helpline.  This is an answer phone service so please leave a message and your key worker will return your call as soon as possible.

To contact the helpline please ring: 

TELEPHONE NUMBER:  01482 816777

• Leave your name and daytime telephone number where we can contact you to give telephone advice

• Your date of birth and case note number. This would be helpful in case we need further details to help with your telephone call
• Your call will be answered daily except weekends and Bank Holidays

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please do not hesitate to contact the Dermatology Department on telephone number: (01482) 622262.

This advice sheet was produced by the Dermatology Department, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and will be reviewed in April 2026.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.