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!

[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.

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!

It does seem hugely unfair! You might expect it if we were talking about different hospitals in different parts of the world but to be talking about the same hospitals seems strange. Originally referred by GP to derm at Guys in March, got an appointment through for April 26th. At appointment on April 26th derm at guys agreed UVB treatment was way forward and referred me to derm at St Thomas' for inititial assesment and then the UVB treatment, got my appointment through from St Thomas' for June 14th. As I said I am away on holiday then so called to rearrange - got through first time - and changed the appointment to 12th July (which was first available one because derm does ridiculously few hours!!) All seemed pretty easy for me - sorry you're having so much trouble. The only other factor that may have been taken into consideration, although I can't see  it, is the fact that my wedding is coming up and all the referral letters mention this. Hope you get sorted soon.

[damo2k]

I have emailed Andrew this morning.

I attend Huddersfield Royal Infirmary Dermatology department, and this morning i attended my PUVA session to find out that Huddersfield Dermatology is imminently shutting down and moving to Halifax.

OK for me - as i drive, but still an inconvenience for many.

[Blueboi08]

Hi all, I'm new here and this is my first post, I'm currently an in patient at broadgreen hospital in Liverpool under dr parslew whom is an excellent dermatologist, I'm currently on infusion of flix which was working quite well until about 8 weeks Go and I had a flare. I'm on dith at the moment trying to get under control. Ok enough background, the reason for the post: as an in patient you expect a certain level of care, although I cannot fault the staff for anything, management in there infinite wisdom have decided to close the ward at the weekend and send people home at three on Friday and re-admitting on a Monday. Now for someone like me, I cannot go home and self administer dith as there are parts of me I just cannot reach, and I imagine being elderly trying to put creams on like dith must be a nightmare. So now instead on a poss two weeks in hospital I face five because the two day miss is not just a miss it's almost two days back, all for costcutting, even the staff here are disgusted. We as patients are trying to resolve this but just don't seem to have a voice, were just not sick enough ....

[dobbin]

Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester has lacked the services of a Consultant Dermatologist for several weeks.
For many years they employed two dermatologists, until earlier this year one left to practice in Australia.
I understand that the other Consultant Dermatologist has also moved to Australia to continue his career.

So what is going on?  Have these consultants cured all the sufferers in Dorset or do they see better prospects
for promotion in sun-blessed Australia?  Or is our local cash-strapped hospital saving money to help pay extravagant
salaries to incompetant managers.  In such circumstances will we ever attract a qualified dermatologist again!

My GP is not authorised to prescribe various drugs which could benefit patients suffering from psoriasis.
Are we heading for a total breakdown in facillities?

Dobbin

[racheld]

Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester has lacked the services of a Consultant Dermatologist for several weeks.
For many years they employed two dermatologists, until earlier this year one left to practice in Australia.
I understand that the other Consultant Dermatologist has also moved to Australia to continue his career.

So what is going on?  Have these consultants cured all the sufferers in Dorset or do they see better prospects
for promotion in sun-blessed Australia?  Or is our local cash-strapped hospital saving money to help pay extravagant
salaries to incompetant managers.  In such circumstances will we ever attract a qualified dermatologist again!

My GP is not authorised to prescribe various drugs which could benefit patients suffering from psoriasis.
Are we heading for a total breakdown in facillities?

Dobbin

Do you live in Dorchester? I grew up there and my parents still live there. I use to attend the derm unit at DCH when it first moved to the new hospital from the old site.

DCH are financially struggling and I know that they were looking at moving some services to Poole which is 30 odd miles away.

[dobbin]

Hi Racheld

Yes, I live near Dorchester and I have heard that dermatology is not a favourite at this hospital because it fails to generate eneough income.
Whatever that means. Travelling to Poole may well be possible for some patients but very difficult for others.  Who would be prepared to make
that journey three times per week for UVB treatment, for instance?

I wonder why Poole can afford this luxury if Dorchester cannot!

[littleh]

Hi All,

I am new on here, but not new to psoriasis or dermatology depts at hospitals in S/SW London. I used to be at St Thomas', then to Guys, then to St Georges and then moved to the St John's Therapy Centre in Battersea and today was told that they are cutting back the list at St J's so I have to go  back to St George's which is impossible for me, which is why I moved to St J's. Now, I think the only thing for me to do is get referred to Chelsea and Westminster, which I know from previous experience will take me ages to get an appt at as they are really full.

FYI the reason I have moved in the past was trying to be at a hosp near to where I worked/lived as often having to visit up to 3 times a week for light treatment etc.

Hope this information is useful to the discussion.

H