Page 4 - Rash Talk Magazine - Issue - One

Led by Sarah Copperwheat, Dermatology Specialist Nurse and Lucy Moorhead, Nurse Consultant in Inflammatory Skin Disease.
Opened by Dr Rupert Mason, the original founder of Rash Talk.
The Practice of Dermatology:

Can dermatology appointments be held remotely

or is face-to-face still best practice?

PODCAST 1

When the first Covid lockdown was The challenges of remote staff members who work from home,
introduced in March 2020, healthcare working as well as monthly virtual one-to-ones,
professionals were plunged into Sarah says the switch to remote and face-to-face meetings at least
an alien world and forced to adapt consultations posed various challenges, once a year.
to new ways of conducting patient with some patients unable to access the “If we’re employing people to work
appointments. internet, computers or smart phones. remotely, we need to look after their
While some dermatology nurses There were also issues with patients mental health,” she said.
continued to work in day centres, failing to answer calls or answering when
like Lucy Moorhead, a nurse they were busy, making it difficult to Adapting pathways
consultant in inflammatory skin discuss sensitive matters. However, remote consultations also
diseases, others - like dermatological have their benefits, and Lucy says
specialist nurse Sarah Copperwheat - As well as logistical challenges, some her clinic has continued to use
underwent a complete shift to remote professionals struggled with the switch. pathways that were developed
working and video consultations. “Mentally, [remote working] can be during the pandemic. For example,
boring and draining,” Sarah said. “It
At last year's British Dermatological works for some people and others before Covid, when a patient started
Nursing Group annual conference, hate it. I always tell my team, if it’s a biologic or a systemic treatment,
held in Harrogate in September, Sarah really not for you, then just say.” they would come back to the clinic
and Lucy came together on a Rash four weeks later for a face-to-face
Talk® podcast to discuss the benefits For this reason, Sarah says it’s visit. Now, these appointments are
and pitfalls of these methods. important to hold daily check-ins with conducted virtually.

Living with Eczema and Psoriasis:

Long term effects and wellbeing

PODCAST 2

Visible, chronic skin conditions like Comparatively, adults are often “If a patient tells me they’re feeling
eczema and psoriasis can have a reluctant to socialise or begin a bit down, I never shy away from
substantial psychological impact an intimate relationship due to asking whether they’ve had thoughts
on patients. insecurities about their appearance of self-harm,” Sarah says.
or fears about their skin flaking,
According to a 2020 report by the with some unable to pursue career “I think it’s very important that we ask
All Party Parliamentary Group aspirations due to soreness and pain. these questions. Just because we ask,
on Skin (APPGS), 98% of skin doesn’t mean people are going to do
disease patients feel their condition This can have a huge impact anything,” she added.
affects their emotional and on patients’ wellbeing, but this Patients should also be informed that,
psychological wellbeing, yet only isn’t always addressed during regardless of their DLQI score, they can
18% have received some form of consultations, Sarah says. self-refer to talking therapies such as
psychological support. Lucy and Sarah say it is therefore cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Both children and adults are at important to monitor patients’ quality should their mental health worsen.
increased risk of poor mental health of life with the Dermatology Life Quality
because of their skin condition, and Index (DLQI), and mental health with A holistic approach to
Sarah says she often encounters the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and patient consultations
children with eczema or psoriasis GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7). As well as monitoring mental
who are bullied at school for looking In addition, patients should be asked health, Lucy says dermatology
different to their peers. directly about how they are feeling. nurses should ask patients about

4 Visit rashtalk.co.uk to enjoy more discussions