Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, and demand on dermatology services is high. The good news is that, with melanoma, early action makes the biggest difference — and you have routes to be seen quickly. Through the NHS, a GP can refer a suspicious lesion on the urgent two-week-wait pathway. Privately, a consultant assessment is usually available within days, with excision and analysis arranged immediately. This guide explains the UK pathways and how to avoid delay when it matters.
Why Early Action Matters
Melanoma caught early — thin, and especially in situ — has an excellent prognosis, while delay allows it to grow deeper and harder to treat. The same urgency applies, to a lesser degree, to other skin cancers. So the priority is simple: get a suspicious lesion assessed without waiting. Learn the signs in how to spot a suspicious mole.
The NHS Pathway
If your GP suspects skin cancer, they refer you under the urgent two-week-wait rule, meaning you should be seen by a specialist within two weeks. This route is free and appropriate for clearly suspicious lesions. Useful information is on the NHS website.
The Private Pathway
Private consultant-led clinics such as London Skin Clinic can usually offer an assessment within days — useful when you want certainty quickly, your GP is uncertain, or you’d rather not wait. A consultant examines the lesion with dermoscopy and, where needed, performs same-day excision with histology — see urgent suspicious-mole assessment. Both routes lead to the same definitive step: removal and analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the two-week-wait referral?
- It is the NHS urgent cancer-referral pathway: if a GP suspects skin cancer, you should be seen by a specialist within two weeks. It is free and is the right route for a clearly suspicious lesion.
- Is private assessment faster?
- Often, yes — a private consultant appointment is usually available within days, with excision and histology arranged promptly. It is useful when you want quick certainty or your GP is unsure, though the NHS two-week-wait is appropriate and free for suspected cancer.
- What does private skin cancer assessment cost?
- At London Skin Clinic a consultation is £100; if a lesion is removed it is £350 (each additional £200) with histology £180. You are told the full cost before any procedure.
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