Cuts and Changes to Derm Services.

[SJ]

Please see the letter below from Skincare Campaign.

Any cuts or changes to derm services in your hospitals? Please report them to the campaign (and here). It is vital we know what is happening out there across the UK. It is likely the derm services will be hit harder than some other areas....

SJ


Dear ALL
 
New Government, New Health Secretary, Worst Economic Crisis in Decades ……. So What Happens Now …….?
 
Whilst it may not be very pleasant to hear or acknowledge at least the new Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, has been as up-front as possible and said that the NHS will not be spared the efficiency savings which the Government is due to impose on the public sector.
 
Overall spending on the NHS will rise in real terms, he said, but the “substantial increase” in health spending over the past decade under Labour was “not sustainable for the future”.
 
The Government would have to go beyond the annual efficiency savings for the NHS set out by Labour, Mr Lansley said. Labour said its plans had implied savings of up to £20 billion by 2013-14 and warned that the coalition’s plans to do more would mean “real pain for the NHS”.
 
Areas like dermatology will be hardest hit, not least because it doesn’t attract the emotional public support like areas such as cancer, childrens services, intensive care units etc. Already commissioners in many primary care and hospital trusts are talking about low and no priority frameworks and I have heard some radical ideas for cutting back on services for people with acne and expect equally uninformed subjective ideas being put forward for most skin conditions where many DoH, NHS, PCT, hospital trust staff etc see them as cosmetic rather than clinical conditions that can severely affect people’s quality of life.
 
Inevitably hard times are coming and coming fast for many with skin diseases who need good quality NHS care – we must act fast to save threatened services. If anyone gets the slightest hint of plans to change their service please let me know asap so that I can get involved, demand public consultation and provide relevant information to inform the decision makers effectively.
 
best wishes
Andrew
 
Andrew Langford
Chief Executive
Skin Care Campaign
 
e: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
t:  07810564913
twitter: @skincampaign
 
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
 
Skin Diseases in the UK are
The main ailment in under 16s (1 in 5 babies have eczema)
The 2nd most common ailment in adults
The most common reason why patients see their GP – accounting for 24% of all GP appointments
ref: Skin Condition in the UK - HCNA 2009, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
 
The Skin Care Campaign:
Has a membership that includes all skin charities & patient support groups
Is supported by all the professional groups working in dermatology
Campaigns for the improvement of healthcare for people with skin conditions
Educates and informs the public, healthcare staff, healthcare commissioners, PCTs, the DoH and the government about skin conditions and their treatment
Works alongside other influential organisations, including the RCP, BAD, PCDS, BDNG, RPSGB and other professional organisations, in order to achieve these objectives
Works alongside the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin to ensure that parliament is kept up to date with all developments in dermatology

[Nicknackwack]

Well that's an interesting post SJ and somewhat fortuitous because I've noticed a change.

A couple of days ago I received a letter from Guys Hospital stating that my next appointment was being changed to St Thomas' Hospital. I followed this up with a telephone call to ask why (as I consider the Derms at Guys Derm Dept the best of the best and I insist on continuity) and was informed that the Derm Dept at Guys "is reducing it's patient handling capacity" and is to become "more specialised."

St Thomas' Hosp Derm Dept is to become a one-stop shop and will deal with the bulk of skin patients thus reducing the waiting time at Guys.

That's the idea anyway ! I'll know more when I go for my appointment mid June.

[SJ]

May I suggest emailing Andrew with this information, Nick? I think he would appreciate it!

SJ

[suzyque]

Hi SJ I recently messaged Pie with regards to a local problem we're facing in west london, it seems all dermatology depts will be getting closed down in favour of local clinics run by GP's & Nurses?  this is very scary for me, they are offering a chance to have your say but you only have till the 31st May & its being done through Twitter?

heres there Twitter page   You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login  & it would be good to click on this post: 

We would like your feedback on what you think of our our proposals for Improving dermatology services by 31 May 2010 You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
2:18 PM May 18th via web

I have recently spoken through facebook also & I have had a response with an email to receive all information which I will add here for anyone else whos interested or could be effected.  The email is:  You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Pls let me know if you have anymore Info on this also would love to find out some more.

I would like to say leave the twitter page just click on the link in their tweet it takes you straight to the leaflet guide, where you can print off & send your comments in?

 

[SJ]

Hi SJ I recently messaged Pie with regards to a local problem we're facing in west london, it seems all dermatology depts will be getting closed down in favour of local clinics run by GP's & Nurses?  this is very scary for me, they are offering a chance to have your say but you only have till the 31st May & its being done through Twitter?

heres there Twitter page   You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login  & it would be good to click on this post: 

We would like your feedback on what you think of our our proposals for Improving dermatology services by 31 May 2010 You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
2:18 PM May 18th via web

I have recently spoken through facebook also & I have had a response with an email to receive all information which I will add here for anyone else whos interested or could be effected.  The email is:  You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Pls let me know if you have anymore Info on this also would love to find out some more.

I would like to say leave the twitter page just click on the link in their tweet it takes you straight to the leaflet guide, where you can print off & send your comments in?

 

Hi

See here: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Please feel free to email Andrew Langford of SCC, or ring if you prefer. He can give you any info you might need...

SJ

[nickystaylor]

Interesting. I read this on Friday then when I got home I'd got a letter saying my appointment for July 26th at Guys to see my derm had been moved to ...... wait for it...... 12th October!! I do have an appointment on 12th July hopefully to start the UVB treatment at St Thomas' and so far that is ok but the follow up at Guys to see how I was reacting to the treatment has been well & truly postponed! I get married in August and wanted to have beautiful skin by then!!

[HELI-PILOT]

3 months ago when I asked for a 25mg increase in dose of Enbrel the derm refused on medical grounds, at my appointment on Monday they told me that this time it was actually on budget grounds............so it's off to the Dead Sea on Monday for me!

[jotee]

Oh this is right up my street. I have been ranting about the delays in my UVB treatment for ages. Dermatologist referred me to the day unit at St Thomas' in March, so far no treatment, just letters telling me they are putting back my appointments. I have two letters in front of me now about this and the number to call is constantly engaged... I wonder why!

I feel sorry for the front line people who have to deal with the seriously peed off people like me.

[nickystaylor]

Oh this is right up my street. I have been ranting about the delays in my UVB treatment for ages. Dermatologist referred me to the day unit at St Thomas' in March, so far no treatment, just letters telling me they are putting back my appointments. I have two letters in front of me now about this and the number to call is constantly engaged... I wonder why!

I feel sorry for the front line people who have to deal with the seriously peed off people like me.
[/quote/]

Odd that you've had to wait quite so long and hope that's not a sign of what might happen to me! I was referred from Guys to St Thomas' day centre for UVB treatment in April. My appointment came through for June 14th (which I thought was quite quick really), I am on holiday then so I called them to rearrange and couldn't get in then until the 12th July as the derm only does the clinic on a monday morning once every 2 weeks! Still by those standards I've not had to wait too long for my rearranged appointment. Hope you manage to get through to them soon & can get in much earlier.

[jotee]

Oh this is right up my street. I have been ranting about the delays in my UVB treatment for ages. Dermatologist referred me to the day unit at St Thomas' in March, so far no treatment, just letters telling me they are putting back my appointments. I have two letters in front of me now about this and the number to call is constantly engaged... I wonder why!

I feel sorry for the front line people who have to deal with the seriously peed off people like me.
[/quote/]

Odd that you've had to wait quite so long and hope that's not a sign of what might happen to me! I was referred from Guys to St Thomas' day centre for UVB treatment in April. My appointment came through for June 14th (which I thought was quite quick really), I am on holiday then so I called them to rearrange and couldn't get in then until the 12th July as the derm only does the clinic on a monday morning once every 2 weeks! Still by those standards I've not had to wait too long for my rearranged appointment. Hope you manage to get through to them soon & can get in much earlier.

When were you originally referrred by your derm? I might use this as ammunition if I ever get through to them on the phone (anonymous ammunition of course). It seems hugely unfair!