London hospitals head to Cromer for first ever outreach clinic

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOS) and Guy’s St Thomas’ Hospital (GSTT) held their first ever outreach clinic for young patients with a rare skin condition at Cromer Hospital last month.

The clinic, which was organised in conjunction with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) dermatology department, was for young people with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), sometimes known as ‘butterfly children’ because of their very fragile skin. Consultant Dermatologist Dr Jemima Mellerio from GSTT and Consultant Paediatrician Dr Anna Martinez from GOS liaised with the NNUH dermatology clinical director, Dr Nick Levell, to set up the clinic at Cromer Hospital. The clinic was also supported by EB charity DEBRA which provided additional funding.

Children and adults with this rare skin condition can find travelling to London difficult because the long journey can cause friction leading to blistering and sores on their delicate skin on the hands and feet. The outreach clinic gave young patients the opportunity to see the London specialists close to home. The initiative also gave the Norwich dermatology team a chance to share experiences and learn from national experts in this condition.

Specialists at Great Ormond Street see children with EB and adult patients are seen at Guys St Thomas’. The hospitals now hope to set up further outreach clinics in other areas of the UK. After the success of this clinic, plans are in place to hold further clinics for children and in Cromer.

Nick Levell said: “We were thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this service and these experts up from London for our local patients. We look forward to working closely with our GOS and GSTT colleagues in the future.”

Consultant Dermatologist Dr Jemima Mellerio from GSTT said: “It was a great clinic and we all look forward to a return trip to Cromer!”