Teledermatology - the Cardiff experience

This paper describes the development and on-going management of an email-based teledermatology service, providing General Practitioners in the metropolitan area of Cardiff, UK, with rapid access to a hospital-based Consultant Dermatologist. The paper describes the ethos behind the establishment of the service, details the equipment and methods used to deliver it, and presents results from the first four years of operation. It also discusses the lessons learnt in moving from an initial pilot to a supported service.