guidelines

skin cancers: recognition & urgent referral (nice cks + ng12)

a gp/primary care summary of recognising suspicious skin lesions, using the weighted 7-point checklist, and referring via 2-week suspected cancer pathways (cks + ng12).

last reviewed: 2026-02-13
based on: NICE CKS Skin cancers (recognition/referral) + NICE NG12 (updated 12 Jan 2026)

Safety netting that prevents misses

Frequently asked questions

What triggers 2-week referral using the 7-point checklist?
A suspicious pigmented lesion with a weighted 7-point checklist score of 3 or more should be referred on the suspected cancer pathway (2-week appointment).
Do I need dermoscopy?
Not mandatory, but dermoscopy can improve discrimination when used by trained clinicians. Follow your local primary care dermoscopy training and pathway rules.

Transparency

This page is an educational, clinician-written summary of publicly available NICE guidance intended for trained healthcare professionals. It uses original wording (not copied text) and should be used alongside the full NICE source, local pathways, and clinical judgement. Doses provided are for general reference; always check the BNF/SPC.