A dome has been set up at Southmead Hospital in Bristol to provide patients with daylight therapies for skin disease without being exposed to the elements.
The geodome is changing the experience for patients with skin diseases that could progress to cancer, reducing cancelled appointments and improving patient experience.
Daylight Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses a chemical-based treatment that is activated by sunlight to target precancerous cells without harming the healthy cells around them. A cream containing the chemical is applied to the skin in the targeted area, and the patient then sits outside in the daylight for a period of two hours, during which time the chemical kills off the precancerous cells and leaves only healthy tissue behind.
The team won an NHS Forest Award earlier this year for the dome’s innovative use of green space within a health site in recognition for the way it is improving the space whilst also benefiting patients.
Daniel Keith, Consultant Dermatologist at NBT, said: “The dome is fantastic for our patients. This model of care represents more than just a change in equipment—it’s a shift towards a gentler, more accessible approach to preventing skin cancer.”
Light levels in the South West mean all daylight PDT is paused until March, but the Dermatology team estimate that around 50% of appointments during spring will be able to go ahead thanks to the dome that would otherwise have been cancelled due to rain. The dome also filters out the harmful UVA and UVB rays that cause cancer.
When not in use the dome acts as an art installation or point of visual interest due to its geometric design.