Brighton and Hove health chiefs to share latest plans with public

Health chiefs are meeting in public in Brighton today (Tuesday 24 September) to share their latest plans.

The board of the Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is due to meet at the Brighthelm Centre in North Road, Brighton, from 2pm to 5pm.

Board members will be given updates on progress and the CCG’s current financial position and will be asked to make some strategic decisions.

One of the first decisions will be whether to approve the business case for an integrated dermatology service through a competitive tender process.

Commissioning manager Kathy Felton said in a report: “Savings in the range of 5 per cent are expected on the current spend.” No financial figures were given in her report to the board.

BICS (Brighton and Hove Integrated Care Services), a consortium of Brighton and Hove GPs, has been running a pilot for an integrated dermatology service under contract for the past three years.

The report said that the CCG recently extended the BICS contract until July next year “to allow for an evaluation of the service and a thorough consideration of the commissioning process”.

BICS subcontracts the service to Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for consultant input.

The contract also includes community services provided by local family doctors and nurses.

It is estimated that 43,000 people suffer from eczema in Brighton and Hove and 6,000 suffer from psoriasis.

The report to the CCG board said: “Skin disease is a common and distressing problem.

“It is estimated that one quarter of the population has a skin problem which could benefit from medical care.

“It represents 34 per cent of disease in children, with atopic eczema affecting 20 per cent of infants.

“Nationally around 15 per cent of the population consult their GP (general practitioner) each year because of a skin complaint and about 5 per cent of those who seek help from their GP are referred for further specialist advice.

“The commonest skin diseases continue to increase in frequency and there are more referrals to secondary care dermatology by GPs than to all of the other medical specialities combined.

“Skin cancer is the most common cancer and the second most common cancer causing death in young adults.

“Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) numbers equal all other malignancies combined, and increased by 81 per cent between 1999 and 2010.

“Reported melanoma incidence increased by over 400 per cent over 35 years.

“Hand eczema is one of the most common reasons for disablement benefit in the UK.

“Inflammatory skin diseases are disabling, disfiguring and distressing and reduce quality of life.

“Expectations of the public have changed and will continue to change in particular with regard to skin disease appearance which can be of great importance, causing disability and loss of function.”

Costs locally appear to be higher than in other comparable areas.

The CCG board is expected to approve a competitive tendering process, with a new contract to start from July next year.