A New Primary Care Led Dermatology Service in Gloucester

22/02/2006

West Gloucestershire patients are set to benefit from a new GP led dermatology service based in a local surgery.

Beginning in early March 2006, this outpatient style clinic will provide specialist diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions following a patient’s referral from their GP and carry out some minor skin biopsies where necessary.

The clinic led by local Gloucester GP, Dr Nick Taylor will run weekly from London Road Medical Practice and is one of a growing number of ‘GP with Special Interest’ services being developed both within the county and across the country.

The new service will complement the consultant led clinics run by Gloucestershire Foundation Hospitals NHS Trust, which will continue to be available for more complex skin conditions and treatments.

Dr Nick Taylor said:

“I have been working as a Clinical Assistant in Dermatology for twenty years and am looking forward to applying the knowledge and expertise built up over this time.”

Dr Taylor is particularly keen on the surveillance and treatment of sun-damaged skin, actinic keratoses,* Bowen’s disease* and basal cell cancers*.

He is also able to provide an opinion and advice on treatment of rashes that have yet to diagnosed.

Skin biopsy and simple surgical procedures can be provided ‘in-house’ by medical partner Dr Iain Jarvis.

Dr Taylor added: “We hope that local GPs will find this an effective and accessible service for their patients with skin problems.”

Director of Service Delivery at West Gloucestershire PCT, John Ford said:

“GP led services such as this are becoming increasingly important in helping to diagnose and treat a growing number of health conditions within local communities. We have no doubt that this new service will be welcomed by GPs and local patients alike.”

“These new services are a really positive way of making local use of the specialist skills and interests that many GPs have developed from their on-going clinical work as part of hospital medical teams and will also help us to make best use of the skills and time of hospital consultants and reduce waiting times for treatment. This development is very much in line with the model of service proposed in the new White Paper."