Introduction
Dermatology services diagnose, investigate, treat and manage the conditions of children and adults with skin disease, as well as hair and nail complaints.
Dermatology treats conditions such as:
● skin cancer
● eczema
● psoriasis
● severe acne
● alopecia
● birthmarks
There is currently a shortage of more than 200 consultant dermatologists across the UK, and not enough people are being trained to replace retiring and leaving staff. There has also been a growing demand for dermatology services, with year on year rises of 20 percent.
For services in Bolton, Salford and Wigan, this has meant relying on locum doctors (a doctor who stands in for the regular doctor) and longer waiting times for appointments, highlighting that the way services are currently provided is not sustainable.
We are working together to review current services and look at ways to transform dermatology services, so that there is more staff, more space and more appointments for the future. This might mean significant changes are made to services, including locations of where services are provided.
The Partnership is committed to making sure any changes are relevant to the people working in - and using - the services, so we have spent the last few months talking to staff and patients to make sure their views are heard to form plans for the future.
Next steps
Following the review, the Partnership has drawn up a list of possible options for future dermatology services in Bolton, Salford and Wigan and we would like to hear your views.
Please complete the short survey and tell us which of the option(s) you think would be the best for the future.
The survey will close on Friday 21st September 2018.
The Partnership will use your feedback when considering which of the options to develop further, before a full public consultation, which will help support making a final decision.
The consultation findings will be forwarded to those who have ‘registered to be kept informed’ (instructions are at the end of the survey) and will also be available at: www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/bswp-dermatology
The six options being considered
Option 1. Leave things the way they are with no changes
What could this mean?
● Locum doctors cost more
● Would still be a lack of doctors and nursing staff
● Would still be a lack of space for the increasing number of appointments
● It would take longer to get an appointment
Option 2. End the current arrangements with each hospital and look for a different way to provide dermatology services across Bolton, Salford and Wigan
What could this mean?
● Changes could take 3 to 5 years
● Difficulty in finding an alternative
● It may cost more
● May not solve the staffing issues
● Some patients may need to go to a different hospital
Option 3. Keep things the way they are and develop the staff, e.g. train nurses to increase their skills to do more specialist treatment
What could this mean?
● Changes could take 3 to 5 years
● Would cost more to develop the staff
● Does not address lack of space
● May solve some staffing issues
Option 4. We keep things the way they are with three hospital sites, but move more routine services into the community across Bolton, Salford and Wigan
What could this mean?
● Changes could take up to 3 years
● Would require more money to fund community based services
● May not be able to carry on providing all services at Salford Royal long-term as no room to expand in the future
● May help to address current staffing issues by recruiting medical staff through Salford Royal, which is recognised as a centre of excellence
Option 5. We have one main hospital providing the specialist/complex care and a second site providing some specialist care. We would open more community-based clinics across Bolton, Salford and Wigan for routine appointments
What could this mean?
● Changes could take up to 3 years
● May solve the lack of space and some staffing issues
● Some patients may need to go to a different site
● Need to find suitable accommodation to bring together dermatology services from two existing sites
● Funding would be needed to adapt the accommodation, but may save money in the long-term
Option 6. We have one main site for all specialist care and more community-based clinics would open across Bolton, Salford and Wigan for routine appointments
What could this mean?
● Changes could take 3 to 5 years
● Need to find suitable accommodation in a central location to Bolton, Salford and Wigan to house specialist care
● Funding would be needed to adapt accommodation, but may save money in the long-term
● Would resolve lack of space
● May resolve some workforce issues
● Some patients may need to go to a different site
2. Please tell us about your interest in dermatology services?
3. Based upon the information you have read, do you think there is a case to review dermatology services, across Bolton, Salford and Wigan?
This question requires an answer
4. Please rank in order of importance (1 - most important, 6 least important), which you think will work best for Bolton, Salford and Wigan patients?
Please note: the options will move after every change and you must rank all choices otherwise the data will be not be accurate.
5. Please say why you have chosen to rank the options this way?
This question requires an answer
6. Please rank in order of importance (1 - most important, 7 least important), which you feel are the most important issues when considering the future of dermatology services?
Please note: the options will move after every change and you must rank all choices otherwise the data will be not be accurate.
8. Gender identity
Is your current gender?
9. Is your gender identity the same as the gender you were assigned at birth?
10. Sexual Orientation
Which of the following options best describes how you think of yourself?
11. Religion or belief
Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?
12. Ethnicity
What is your ethnicity?
13. Carers
Do you have caring responsibilities?
14. Disability
Do you consider yourself to have a disability?
15. If answering yes to Q14, please specify? (tick all that apply)