Sir, we would like to highlight a case of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) brought to our attention via digital and virtual communications methods. A 78-year-old male, in the midst of the recent pandemic lockdown, could not access an in-person consultation at his local GP surgery. His son was able to arrange tele-communications with the GP using a smartphone to take photos at the patient's home and email them to the GP who, after review, forwarded these via email to our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department for assistance (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

A 78-year-old patient with an advanced lower lip squamous cell carcinoma

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On receiving the photos an immediate video consultation was set up between clinician, patient and family member using NHS Attend Anywhere to allow an initial history and assessment to be undertaken. It was suspected that the lesion was sinister and further higher quality photographs were requested and received reinforcing concern of an advanced lower lip SCC.

Urgent head and neck scans and biopsy investigations were organised for a one-time hospital visit, to reduce the number of in-person interactions for this shielded patient. By this stage a primary care assessment, secondary care referral, subsequent history and examination and planning of one-day further investigations were all undertaken virtually without the need for the patient to have an in-person consultation at his GP surgery or hospital. Following his one-stop in-person hospital visit, a diagnosis of SCC was confirmed, and the patient is receiving ongoing care for this.

A recent survey showed 74% of patients were amenable to virtual oral and maxillofacial consultations although clinicians were concerned that a low percentage of consultations would be appropriate for this technique.1 Virtual consultation in this case was a beneficial tool to complement conventional OMFS outpatient clinic and clinical examination, aided by one-stop clinics.

Video and virtual consultations may play an increasing role in aiding the initial stages of diagnosis and catching oral cancer in the community. It may also be a means for aiding communication between primary and secondary care clinicians to accelerate patients' pathways where appropriate.