CATEGORY DEFINITIONS
These are recommended guidelines for health professionals referring patients for assessments / treatment in a HHS.

within 1 week

within 4 weeks

within 16 weeks

Immediate and Urgent cases must be discussed with the Specialist or Registrar in order to get appropriate prioritisation and then a referral letter sent with the patient, faxed or e-mailed.  The times to assessment may vary depending on size and staffing of the hospital department.

Use ABCD criteria (NZ Dermatology Society Melanoma Guidelines).

Primary narrow excision with histology.

(Further management as per the NZ Dermatology Society Melanoma Guidelines).

Refer if diagnostic concern, or without skill.

Category 2

Other References: 

Differential Diagnosis in Dermatology.  Richard Ashton & Barbara Leppard.  Radcliffe Medical Press. 1990