GP's w/ special interes in Derm!

[Deadly_Doc]

Hi, just wanted to find out your opinions on something. Do you think there will be much demand for Dermatologists once polyclinics are established and there will be loads of GP's with a special interest in dermatology? What are your thoughts?

[James]

The RCGP is trying to phase out all GPsi's. They are simply not value for money. Although the idea of having one GP partner at the practice (or polyclinic) with an interest in skin is likely to stay.

Now bear in mind that ~70% of patients seen in hospital dermatology clinics are for skin cancer or pre-cancerous lesions.

The new NICE guidelines on skin cancer essentially say that all skin cancer needs to be seen by a dermatologist. In addition the old practice of GPs doing minor surgery and removing skin cancers is now effectively banned. So the workload for hospital dermatologists (along with the incidence of skin cancer) is likely to rise significantly.

Also the increased use of biological agents and immunosuppresives for inflammatory dermatosis can only really be done in a hospital setting.

Lastly the UK has the lowest number of dermatologists per head of population than any other westernised country. Nationally there are a large number of unfilled consultant posts and restriction on trainee numbers mean job prospects are excellent.

[Deadly_Doc]

Thank you for the reassurance! well appreciated.