Background/Aim
Early-stage melanoma (Stage 0–2b) follow-up can be safely managed in primary care, yet specialist clinic capacity at tertiary centres is frequently utilised by this cohort. Melanoma School is a structured patient education and discharge program established at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in June 2025. It prepares patients to transition to GP-based surveillance, supported by a rapid re-access pathway to clinic. This audit evaluates program feasibility, uptake, and patient experience.
Methods
Retrospective audit of patients with Stage 0–2b melanoma referred to Melanoma School at Peter Mac (June 2025–February 2026). Exclusions: systemic therapy or clinical trial enrolment. Data captured: participation rates, reasons for non-participation, post-session satisfaction survey (helpfulness, self-monitoring confidence, rapid access understanding, and GP-presentation confidence), and rates of rapid access re-entry to clinic.
Results
295 patients were eligible for Melanoma School; 102 (35%) participated. Of the 193 non-participants, 41 (21%) actively declined and 151 (78%) did not respond; common reasons for declining included distance from Peter Mac (n=8) and preference for continued specialist review (n=7). Post-session feedback was obtained from 37 participants: 97% rated the session as helpful or very helpful; 97% reported completely understanding the rapid access pathway back to Peter Mac; 95% felt comfortable with skin self-monitoring; and 86% felt confident or very confident presenting a concerning lesion to their GP. Qualitative feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with particular appreciation for the in-person format and the "Golden Ticket" rapid access concept. Only 3 patients (3%) subsequently utilised the rapid access pathway back to clinic, all of whom were reassured and returned to GP-based follow-up.
Conclusions
Melanoma School demonstrates strong feasibility and patient acceptability as a discharge model for early-stage melanoma. A low re-entry rate alongside high patient comprehension of the rapid access pathway supports both its safety and effectiveness. With broader implementation, this program has significant potential to reduce specialist capacity burden without compromising patient outcomes or safety.