Circle Integrated Care (CIC) provides free dermatology care on the NHS for patients registered with a GP in Wolverhampton.
Dermatology problems are those which affect the skin, such as:
- Acne
- Basal cell carcinomas (BCC)
- Benign lesions
- Bowen's disease
- Eczema
- Moderate to severe rashes
- Keratosis
- Psoriasis
To provide the great care you need and expect, as quickly as possible, we work in partnership with local GP practices and other healthcare partners.
If you have a problem with your skin, please see your GP in the first instance.
Many skin conditions can be managed well by GPs, and we often support them with advice, meaning that lots of patients don't need to come for a specialist appointment at all.
If you do need specialist help, your GP will send an online referral to Circle
- It’s ideal if your GP includes photographs with the referral to help us make the best triage decision to get you on the right treatment pathway first time.
- If that’s not possible we may arrange for you to come to a teledermatology clinic where we’ll take high-quality photos
Our team is made up of specialist nurses and doctors who work together to give high-quality care to patients in Wolverhampton.
We review all referrals we receive:
- We return some referrals to GPs with advice, supporting them to look after you within your GP practice if they’ve not already optimised your treatment
- If you need specialist care, the clinician who checks your referral will choose the best pathway for you and your condition
- If your referral is for a possible cancer, we send it straight to the hospital dermatology team. They will contact you as soon as they can
After triage, we only see low risk skin conditions in the Circle Dermatology service - any referrals for possible cancer are sent to the hospital. This means that if you're waiting to see us in the Circle Dermatology service, please be reassured that your skin condition has been triaged as low-risk.
Clinics we provide within the Community Dermatology Service are:
- Teledermatology clinics – to take high-quality photos to help us make the best triage decision, if no photos have been provided or if they’re not detailed enough
- Specialist Doctor clinics (Consultant Dermatologists, GPs with Extended Role in Dermatology) – for new diagnoses where there is uncertainty at triage, or to start more aggressive treatments where needed
- Clinical Nurse Specialist clinics – for regular management and monitoring of most skin conditions
- Phototherapy clinics – for delivery of phototherapy treatment
- Biologics, DMARD and retinoid monitoring clinics – specific clinics for monitoring of these advanced treatments
- Minor operations – for removal of non-cancerous skin lesions, or biopsy if there is diagnostic uncertainty
We want you to be involved in decisions about your care so please make sure we’ve explained any options to you and that your needs and wishes are taken into account.
Some skin problems are no longer treated by the NHS because:
- They are usually harmless (benign) and don’t usually cause symptoms
and/or
- Treatments which are available have not been proven to work well
You can find more information about this in the "Procedures of Limited Clinical Value" tab below.
If you have questions, please ask your GP or contact us.
Checking your skin and knowing when to seek help
The British Skin Foundation offers useful guidance on checking your skin for any changes which should be looked at. If you’ve spotted something you think needs attention, please contact your GP surgery. Some GP surgeries may offer you an online chat, with you providing photos, or you may just arrange an appointment.
The sun and your skin
The British Skin Foundation has great advice on keeping your skin safe in the sun.
Common skin conditions include eczema, psoriasis, acne and a variety of skin lesions, but there are many others!
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) has comprehensive patient information leaflets on all skin conditions and treatments – particularly helpful if you already have a diagnosis. Click here to visit their website.
Steroid creams are used to treat many skin conditions.
When used properly, steroid creams are brilliant at treating many skin conditions. However, there has been negative information on social media recently about steroid creams because of concerns about topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). This can lead to patients stopping their treatment too soon, which often causes their skin condition to flare up. Some patients also avoid using steroids during a flare, which can make the flare worse.
The National Eczema Society has produced leaflets to help you understand steroid treatment better, so that you can get the best out of your treatment.
- Topical Steroid Withdrawal – explains topical steroid withdrawal and provides guidance while waiting for an appointment
- Topical Steroid Factsheet – includes important information on:
-
- Different strengths (potency)
- How much to use
- How long to use it for
Removal of benign (non-cancerous) skin lesions for cosmetic purposes is not routinely funded on the NHS.
In Dermatology care, “Procedures of Limited Clinical Value” (PLCV) refers to treatments which are generally considered to be cosmetic, lacking sufficient clinical evidence of effectiveness, and/or only effective in specific circumstances. These are not usually funded by the NHS. This policy is dictated by the local Integrated Care Board, whose aim is to ensure that NHS resources are used for procedures with clear clinical benefits.
However, following clinical assessment, treatment may be provided on the NHS for the following conditions:
- Benign pigmented moles
- Comedones
- Corns/callouses
- Dermofibromas
- Lipomas
- Milia
- Molluscum contagiosum
- Seborrhoeic keratosis
- Skin tags (including anal tags)
- Spider angioma (naevus)
- Epidermoid/pilar (sebaceous) cysts
- Xanthelasma
- Neurofibromata
- Non-genital viral warts in immunocompetent patients
Please note that one or more of the below eligibility criteria must be met for treatment on the NHS to be considered:
- Repeated infections of the lesion requiring 2 or more courses of antibiotics per year
- The lesion interferes with routine daily tasks such as disturbs sleep, impairs walking or restricts joint movement due to the location.
- The lesion causes obstruction of an orifice or vision
- The lesion causes regular pain
- The lesion bleeds during normal daily activity
- The lesion causes pressure symptoms on nerves or other tissue
- The patient may need more invasive intervention in the future if the lesion is left untreated
Facial viral warts may be treated.
Lesions that are suspicious for malignancy and pre-malignant lesions will be treated or referred on a cancer pathway. This includes:
- Lesions with diagnostic uncertainty
- Actinic Keratosis and Bowen’s disease
- Lesions with pre-malignant potential
- Lipomas on the body >5cm, or in a sub-facial position, with rapid growth and/or pain (these will be referred to the Sarcoma clinic)
Those who are able to access private treatment – either through self-pay or via insurance – may be able to access treatment via a private dermatologist for conditions covered by PLCV policy.
We have clinical locations at:
- Beechwood House, 7 Summerfield Rd, Wolverhampton WV1 4PR
- Low Hill Practice, 191 First Ave, Wolverhampton WV10 9SX
- Phoenix Health Centre, 715B Parkfield Road, Wolverhampton WV4 6ED
Not every treatment is available at each site, but we will always give you a choice of location where we can.
Click here to visit our contact page - please click on the "Wolverhampton" button
You can read our patient privacy notice here.
The organisation conducts Data Privacy Impact Assessments for all high risk personal data processing. These may be available on request by contacting us at [email protected]
Please note that some information may be redacted where it is corporately sensitive.
Dermatology clinician was outstanding. She had certainly read up on my notes and was completely au fait with the problem I was experiencing. Her preparation for the appointment was excellent.
My skin was so bad I wouldn’t leave the house… The support and care you have given me has made me feel ‘normal’ again.