Owing to such factors as reduction of the ozone layer secondary to the greenhouse gas effect and consequent increased intensity of ultraviolet light, insufficient caution amongst fair-skinned people to avoid and protect against excessive ultraviolet light in day-to-day life and particularly on holidays at home and abroad, and the overall increased age of the general population, the occurrence of skin cancer is rising faster than any other type of cancer. The UK death rate for the most aggressive form, malignant melanoma, has doubled in the last 10 years.

Mr Matthews has devoted much time to the management of skin cancer, co-founding the original team to improve standards in Coventry and Warwickshire and Chairing its formal successor, the Site Specific Group for Skin Cancer in the Arden Cancer Network.

His great experience in the surgical management of such skin cancers as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma is continually made available to patients both within the NHS and privately, the provision of high standards of communication and outcome being as much his driving objective in this field as for cosmetic surgical procedures.