Plans to permanently move dermatology services at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW)

The Dermatology Council for England is concerned about these changes and the way in which UHCW is going about making them.

After temporarily moving the bulk of its dermatology services away from the main hospital site during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psoriasis Association understands that University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) has decided that this relocation will be made permanent.

As of yet, the new site for the dermatology services has not been decided, however patients and other key stakeholders have not been formally consulted on the decision to make the relocation permanent. As such, any subsequent form of consultation would effectively deprive those groups from being able to give their views on whether there should be a permanent relocation at all, as opposed to being able to comment upon what that relocation should look like.

The Dermatology Council for England (DCE), a body that represents the dermatology community in England, including dermatology patients, healthcare professionals, organisations, and charities, has expressed its concerns about the impact these intended changes will have on patient access to care.

The DCE believes that UHCW is failing to include patients in its decision-making processes, despite the fact that it must do so by law when it is considering proposals to significantly re-design its services. It is also best practice for patients who use health services to be involved in the planning and delivering of their local services.

The DCE has raised these concerns with the CEO of UHCW, the Chair of the local Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC), and the Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group but they also feel that people who rely on dermatology services in the Coventry and Warwickshire should also be made aware of this matter.

How can you help?

If you live in the Coventry and Warwickshire area, and you are concerned about what this relocation may mean for your dermatology care, the lack of consultation from UHCW, or you have already faced difficulties accessing the current dermatology service and would like to raise this, you can do so by following the steps below:

• Contact the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Coventry, either by phone on 0247 697 5511, or email at scrutiny@coventry.gov.uk.
• Contact Healthwatch Coventry, either by phone on 0300 0120 315, or email at yoursay@healthwatchcoventry.co.uk.
• Contact your local MP. You can find out who your local MP is, and their contact details here.

The DCE would also be happy to listen to your comments, questions and concerns. They can be contacted by email at Chair@dermatologyengland.org.uk, or in writing at:

Dermatology Council for England,
4 Fitzroy Square,
London
W1T 5HQ