Lack of specialist causes rash of complaints

4:44pm Saturday 17th May 2008

Pembrokeshire's lack of a dermatologist has left a large number of people on a waiting list for treatment or referral.

The county has one dedicated skin specialist who has been on long-term sick leave for a number of months.

One patient believes around 700 patients are waiting for treatment, but this figure has not been confirmed by the Hywel Dda Trust.

One person affected by the lack of the service is Linda Hier, of Pembroke, who has suffered from psoriasis for about ten years, and her condition has worsened recently.

Mrs Hier said: "It is really bad for me, it hurts to wear clothes and there must be people worse than me. I was meant to see a specialist in January but didn't hear anything so I rang and was told my appointment would be in April. When I rang in April I was told there was no dermatologist. I won't be seen in the foreseeable future."

Chief officer of Pembrokeshire Community Health Council, Ashley Warlow, told the Western Telegraph: "We are aware of significant shortcomings in services for dermatology patients locally and hope this will be addressed in the not too distant future. It is one of the issues to be looked at by the new Hywel Dda Trust. Patients should not be exposed to lengthy waits for such a service, they are often in pain and discomfort.

"Pembrokeshire CHC will continue to monitor the situation and press for the shortcomings to be addressed as quickly as possible."

The Hywel Dda NHS Trust issued a joint statement with Pembrokeshire Local Health Board.

A trust spokesman said: "There have been some recent difficulties in providing the full range of outpatient dermatology services at Withybush Hospital due to long-term absence and difficulties in securing alternative cover.

"During this time, the trust and Pembrokeshire Local Health Board have ensured that clinically essential dermatology services have been maintained and this has been achieved by using locum consultant dermatologists, when available, with the help of Abertawe and Swansea NHS Trust, in seeing clinically urgent patients.

"It has not been possible to provide outpatient appointments to see all follow-up patients so a number of patients are still awaiting follow-up appointments.

"The trust will, however, be contacting all patients who have been referred or require follow-up appointments in the next three weeks to confirm arrangements for their care."

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