Dermatology

The Dermatology department deals with treatment of the skin and its diseases, including skin cancer. We provide a wide range of specialist services, and are one of only few centres across the country to have a skin laser centre as well as a phototherapy unit, which uses light to treat some skin conditions.

We are based in the Birmingham Skin Centre situated on the 3rd floor of the Sheldon Block at City Hospital. It’s facilities include clinic rooms, theatre and minor procedures area for day case surgery, treatment and diagnostic facilities.

For more information about disabled access for this service, please click here.

Team

Specialty Lead for Dermatology

• Dr Donna Thompson – General Dermatology/ Skin cancer/Paediatric Dermatology Lead / Cutaneous Allergy Lead

Consultants dermatologists and their specialist areas

• Dr Sue Ann Chan – General Dermatology/ Paediatric Dermatology/ Skin cancer
• Dr Moumita Chattopadhyay – General Dermatology/ Skin cancer / Vulval Dermatology/ Audit Lead
• Dr Nadine Marrouche- General Dermatology/ Paediatric Dermatology/ Skin cancer
• Dr Amirtha Rajasekaran – General Dermatology/Skin cancer/ Vulval dermatology/ Photobiology and Phototherapy lead, Training lead
• Dr Michelle Thomson – General Dermatology/ Lasers/ Skin Cancer/Skin Cancer MDT Lead/ Research lead

Associate Specialists and their specialist areas

• Mr Junaid Salahuddin – Plastic surgery with special interest in skin cancer

Specialist Nurses

• Karen Jones – Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Anne Rutland – Skin Cancer Specialist Nurse
• Rebecca Bayley – Clinical Nurse Specialist, Laser
• Amrita Nar – Clinical Nurse Specialist, Laser
• Jenna Pardy – Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Alison Rowe – Dermatology Specialist Nurse, chronic disease management

Senior Nurses

• Marisa Thomas – Nurse manager 
• Kimberley Kitching – Associate Specialist Nurse, Laser
• Chris Baker – Sister, Phototherapy 
• Judith Morgan – Sister, Outpatient Department

Secretaries

• Darcy May
• Julie Gray
• James Gillen
• Victoria Murphy
• Toni Wheatley
• Alison Lees

Department is supported by junior doctors (Internal medical trainees (IMTs), Specialist Trainees (STs), Junior Speciaty Doctors (JSDs), GPs with extended roles in Dermatology (GPwER)), Nursing staff, Secretarial and Administrative staff, Clinic coordinators, Pharmacists/ pharmacy technicians, Theatre booking clerks, a medical records team and support staff, Managerial staff.

Services

Cutaneous Allergy Service 

We provide a tertiary referral regional service for adult and paediatric patients with contact and occupational dermatitis. Clinics run weekly and are attended regularly by other consultant dermatologists, pharmacists, occupational health doctors and nurses and industry specialists. We regularly contribute to research in this subspecialty area, including collaborative work at a national level with the British Society for Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA). 

Dermatological Surgery 

The Birmingham Skin Centre performs procedures in two dedicated operating facilities, and additionally in other surgical facilities across the Trust including access to the main theatre for patients requiring a general anaesthetic. Most procedures are performed under local anaesthetic. These include simple procedures like biopsies (testing a tiny sample of skin for cancer) to major skin grafts carried out by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Currently our complex skin cases are managed by our in-house plastic surgery colleague attached to our dermatology unit. 

Day Treatment Unit 

There is a dedicated day treatment unit (DTU) for education and treatment of patients with topical treatments including ‘specials’ such as coal tar and dithranol.

Laser Unit

The Birmingham Regional Skin Laser Centre, is also based at the Birmingham Skin Centre, and has one of the widest selections of skin laser equipment. We treat all skin disorders where laser therapy is appropriate both privately and to NHS funded patients. Procedures include: hair removal, tattoo removal, vascular lesions (such as port-wine stains, facial thread veins and redness), pigmented marks and lesions, scar treatment, laser resurfacing for various indications. You will be treated by a dermatology consultant or a team of specialist NHS nurses. We regularly contribute to scientific meetings with an active research interest in this field.

Medical Infusions Suite, Birmingham Treatment Centre

Patients undergoing Biologics intravenously (through the vein) would receive their treatment at the Medical Infusion Suite, currently located in the ground floor of the Birmingham Treatment Centre, City Hospital. 

Nurse-led Services 

There are several nurse-led clinics within the department. We have 6 clinical nurse specialists and they assist in the delivery of biologics and other systemics drug monitoring, Paediatric dermatology, Laser services, and in skin cancer support. 

Paediatric Dermatology 

Clinics for children with skin disorders are held at the Birmingham Skin Centre and Sandwell Hospital. We work closely with the paediatric unit at Sandwell Hospital, where children are under the joint care of a dermatologist and a paediatrician.  

Phototherapy Service

The Phototherapy Suite treats a number of different skin conditions using light as well as conventional therapies. Treatments are carried out by highly trained and experienced nurses. The Suite has both UVA and UVB machines and a hand and foot unit. We also have the facilities to offer bath PUVA. Patients are reviewed by medical staff throughout the treatment course.

Skin Cancer Service 

Most types of skin cancer can be treated if detected early enough. Our department operates a weekly skin cancer screening clinic with just a two-week wait. Patients can also be referred to consultant radiotherapists (specialists in radiation treatment) or oncologists (specialist cancer doctors). We can also refer to plastic surgeons if necessary. Patients are supported by a specialist skin cancer nurse from the Macmillan Trust, who provides a focal point for patients, their relatives and carers. She ensures that patient support is available from the very first consultation onwards.

Vulval Skin Clinic 

We offer subspecialist expertise in vulval (the outer skin of the vagina) disorders. Clinics are held weekly and once per month as a parallel clinic and MDT with the Gynae-Oncologists.

Patient Stories

Please feel free to share your experiences of this service. Please e-mail your views to swbh.comms@nhs.net

Patient Information

Patient information leaflets

Laser hair removal
Laser tattoo removal

Paste bandages (ML6556)

Safety In the Sun (ML6234)

Skin Laser Centre – Pilonidal Sinus Disease (PSD) (ML6470)

Medical Photography in Dermatology  ML6744

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme ML6233

Vitamin D and Melanoma ML6232

Contacts

Nurses helpline 0121 507 5702

Appointments helpline 0121 507 4151

For further information regarding laser treatment please contact Ann Weaver (laser secretary) on 0121 507 6639 between 8am and 3.30pm or email:  swbh.dermlaser@nhs.net

If you require more specific information on other dermatology services, please contact the relevant consultant via their secretary on 0121 553 1831.

Secretaries and the consultants/specialist nurses they work for:

• Darcy May (Dr Chattopadhyay and Dr Varma)
• Julie Gray (Dr Donna Thompson and Dr Qeyum)
• James Gillen (Dr Rajasekaran and Anne Rutland)
• Victoria Murphy (Dr Salahuddinand Dr Michelle Thomson)
• Alison Lees (Dr Marrouche and Alison Rowe)
• Toni Wheatley (Dr Chan and Jenna Pardy)