Mr Howard Peach

Mr Peach qualified from Bristol in 1989, completing a skin cancer fellowship at the Sydney Melanoma Unit, Australia and then in 2003 was appointed as a consultant Plastic Surgeon in Leeds. He has been actively involved here in establishing a comprehensive skin cancer service for the region, including sentinel node biopsy, isolated limb infusion, diphencyprone service and electrochemotherapy. He has been the lead clinician for the regional melanoma service for over 18 years and is a core member of the regional Specialist Skin cancer service, which manages people who have non-melanoma skin cancer. He was instrumental in developing a national skin cancer fellowship and has been a trustee and on the scientific board for Melanoma Focus, a melanoma charity, for over 10 years. He has just completed an educational sabbatical at the Melanoma Institute of Australia.

Mr Peach provides a comprehensive skin cancer service, from initial diagnosis of skin lesions, management of skin cancers non-surgically and surgically, to regular follow up and dermatoscopic mole monitoring. He is able to provide surgical procedures under local or general anaesthetic, which include, excison and wider excision of the primary and any secondary lesions, sentinel node biopsy and lymph node dissection.

Mr Peach continues to participate in national and international trials, currently this includes the MelMarT II excision margins trial. He has successfully organised several national and international teaching conferences, which have had excellent feedback. He has published over 30 peer reviewed papers and presented at national and international meetings. He continues to develop regional and national guidelines for the management of skin cancer, including Merkel Cell Carcinoma and the Melanoma Focus supported guidelines on Ano-Uro-Genital mucosal melanoma. He helped organise, chair and then publish a well received national consensus document on sentinel node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma. Most recently he was an invited committee member for NICE, developing updated guidelines for cutaneous melanoma.

Whilst Mr Peach is trained in aesthetic surgery, his practice both NHS and private is principally focused on skin oncology. However he uses his plastic surgery training to aim for excellent cosmetic results after surgery for skin cancer. This can involve neat scars or local flaps, where nearby spare skin is used to reconstruct an area. Alternatively skin grafts may be required, either as a split graft to cover a larger area or a full thickness graft where a better cosmetic or functional result is required.

Mr Peach strives to ensure the individuals he looks after, receive excellent compassionate care with high quality surgical results. He prides himself in taking the time needed to explain the diagnosis, the surgery and expected outcomes. Mr Peach will organise appropriate investigations and where needed, onward referrals of his patients to colleagues with knowledge outside his areas of expertise.