Accreditation
Practice Information
Torbay Skin is a primary care specialist skin cancer facility which ensures patients receive the highest standard of primary care.
Practitioners who work at this practice have been accredited by the Skin Cancer College of Australasia, the peak governing body of skin cancer education and training in Australasia.
You can be confident you are receiving the services of an accredited and qualified doctor in skin cancer medicine when you visit Torbay Medical Skin Clinic.
You can check the accredited status of doctors who work at Torbay Skin Clinic using the following links:
Dr David Thompson: www.skincancercollege.org/doctor/?doctor=450
Appointments
You can make an appointment by phoning us on 09 477 1111
Our standard initial consultation for a whole body skin check is 40 minutes.
Surgical procedures vary in time and will be discussed at your skin-check consultation.
There may be a cancellation fee applied if you cancel your appointment within 24 hours of your appointment time, as there may be others willing to take your appointment.
Digital Dermatoscopic Mole-Mapping
We use a Dermlite FotoProII lens attached to a high-resolution digital SLR camera to take detailed microscopic digital images of any suspicious moles. These moles can then be followed up over a period of time to see if they have changed. We only record unusual looking or atypical moles. We store these high-resolution images in our specialised Canfield Mirror software for future comparison.
If we do identify a suspicious lesion, we will undertake further investigation and if necessary, treatment and referral. We refer our patients to other specialist centers i.e., NZ Melanoma Unit or the public hospital for complex and advanced melanomas which we are unable to manage at our clinic.
After Hours’ Care
We are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday except public holidays. In general, this practice does not provide care outside the above opening hours. If you have an urgent need requiring attention, we recommend seeking advice from the nearest emergency department or from your local GP. If you are having skin surgery, we will arrange for appropriate post-surgical care at the time of treatment.
Patient Feedback
At Torbay Skin, our goal is to deliver first class primary care skin cancer services. Should you have any concerns or suggestions on how we can improve our services to you, please phone or write to our business manager or your doctor. All correspondence will be treated with utmost confidentiality. We take your suggestions and complaints seriously. If you feel that you may have difficulty in discussing issues directly with the practice you may prefer to contact the Health and Disability Commissioner.
Test Results
Our practice policy is to have all patients to return for a consultation to obtain and discuss abnormal test results. It may be possible for a nurse or a doctor to give results over the phone under some circumstances.
Reminder System
We maintain a computerised reminder system to help remind you of any follow up appointments. Txt reminders are also sent when annual skin checks are due.
Disability Facility
Our practice is designed for wheelchair access. If you have any special needs, please discuss them with the reception staff or your doctor.
Private Health Insurance
Please be aware that private health insurance may cover procedural costs at our practice. Your private insurance policy may also cover hospital based procedures. Please contact your private health insurance provider for more information.
We highly recommend those patients who can afford it to take out private health insurance cover to avail themselves of the many private sector advantages on offer. Private health insurance assists you in gaining access to private specialist care at a private hospital when urgently required.