Dermatology
Meet the team:
Consultants:
Dr A Javed, Dr E Domanne, Dr E Davies, Dr R Llewellyn
Specialist Nurses:
J Martin, B. Price, S. Maju
Clinical Support Worker:
A Facer
About the Department:
The Dermatology Department offers diagnosis and management of skin conditions including skin cancer. We are based in Outpatients 1 in the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Specialist features of department include:
- Skin cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, including nurse-led specialist clinics for skin cancer follow up and minor surgery
- Diagnosis and treatment of common skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, acne
- Diagnosis and management of rare skin disorders and skin emergencies
- Consultant-led specialist clinics in General Dermatology, Skin cancer (Fast-Track), Paediatric Dermatology, Vulval Dermatology, Nail Disorders, Leg Ulcers, and Psoriasis (Biologic treatments)
- Dermatology specialist nurse specialising in inflammatory skin conditions
- A wide range of investigation and treatments are available including; skin surgery, phototherapy, iontophoresis, patch tests, cryotherapy and biologic treatments
- We work closely with the Histopathology, Plastics Surgery and Maxillofacial departments in the Countess and with the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Whiston and St Helen’s Hospital to provide our patients with the most appropriate care.
Skin Cancer
If you have recently been referred or diagnosed with a skin cancer, the information on this page may be of further support for you. The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Malignant Melanoma (MM).
If your general practitioner suspects a skin cancer, they will refer you to Dermatology or Plastic Surgery via the FastTrack pathway, which means you should be offered an appointment within two weeks of the referral. When you come to your appointment in the Dermatology Department you may 1st be seen by a doctor who specialises in Dermatology or attend AI clinic for the lesion to be photographed by CSW and lesion analysed using skin analytics AI system. You will be asked questions about your skin and your medical history, and your skin examined. If a skin cancer is still suspected then we will offer to remove (excise) or sample (biopsy) the area concerned, so that it can be examined under the microscope by a histopathologist. The procedure will be carried out by either a doctor or a specialist nurse. You will be offered this procedure at a later date. Once the skin has been examined under the microscope we are usually able to make a firm diagnosis.
If you do not have a skin cancer then you will usually be discharged. If you do have a skin cancer you may or may not need further treatment and follow-up.
A diagnosis of skin cancer can bring about concerns, worries and anxiety, these maybe practical, emotional and/or financial. Depending on the type of skin cancer you may need to be followed up for a specific amount of time under a specialist skin cancer nurse who works closely with your named consultant. The nurse will perform full skin checks, lymph node assessments, complete Health Need Assessment (HNA), end of treatment summaries and provide advice and guidance to help identify specific needs and get the best help and support in moving forward with your treatment.
Patients are also encouraged to wear a high factor sun cream, to not get burnt or use sunbeds, and cover up in the sun. Any new or changing lesions on your skin it is strongly advised to contact your Consultant, specialist nurse or GP and to seek further advice.
Below are some contacts that you may find useful for further information and support:
- Macmillan Support and Information Centre, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 01244364948
- Macmillan Cancer Support 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week 8am – 8pm
- Melanoma focus
- British Association of Dermatologist (BAD)
- Cancer research UK
- Skcin
- Teenage and young adult cancer services
- Wirral holistic care services
- Maggies
- Melanoma patient conference
- Supporting our Armed Forces | Countess of Chester Hospital
- HOPE course.
The team also work towards improving the service we offer, by listening to patient feedback and acting on any ways that we can enhance the care you receive within our department.
The Countess Charity helps us provide more for our patients her at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Ellesmere Port. For more information please google Countess Charity.
Useful telephone numbers:
- Dr Javed Secretary 01244 366431
- Dr Domanne and Dr Llewellyn secretary 01244 362158
- Dr Davies secretary 01244 366593
- Skin cancer clinical nurse specialist: 01244 363618 or 362425
Information Leaflets: