GLASGOW is leading an £8million project to ensure all Scottish nurses are trained in dermatology in a bid to ease pressure on GP services and cut waiting times for specialists.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde say skin conditions are an area of “huge demand” and make up a significant proportion of surgery appointments while unnecessary hospital appointments are further heaping pressure on services.

In Scotland one in four people are affected by a skin disease such as eczema, severe acne and psoriasis and new figures show cases of skin cancer have soared.

The British Association of Dermatologists say that while there is not a shortage of doctors wishing to specialise in skin conditions, the area receives a limited number of trainees every year. It is estimated that around a quarter of consultant posts across the UK are unfilled.

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Two dermatology improvement nurses, one from Glasgow and another from Tayside have been tasked with heading up a major project, funded by the EU, which aims to transfer the balance of care from GPs to nurses and minimise unnecessary hospital appointments.

At the end of the three-year project, all Scottish nurses will be trained in basic dermatology while other staff will be given specialist training.

Advanced training at degree or masters level will also be available to create nursing specialists.

The two nurses will test and evaluate new methods of working, run practical clinical sessions, and develop training materials to help support and educate dermatology nurses in the future.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said waiting times for appointments varied depending on the condition.

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Dr Fiona Macdonald, Clinical Lead for Dermatology, said: “Dermatology is a speciality with a huge demand and is also a significant part of the Primary care workload.

“It is essential that all nurses qualifying over the next few years have a general knowledge of core aspects of Dermatology, but we also need to acknowledge and plan for future vacancies due to retirement and so on, as well as expansion where it will be appropriate for the service.

“The nurses have mapped out the existing dermatology services for every NHS Board in Scotland, and will use their findings to determine what kind of skills nurses will need in the future."