What to expect
Patients with skin disease are for the most part treated in clinics but very occasionally a patient may need to be admitted for more intensive skin treatment.
Often this is an emergency situation and though we try to admit such patients to our dermatology beds on Phyllis Friend Ward, occasionally we have to accept a bed anywhere in The Royal London Hospital and then transfer the patient to Phyllis Friend as soon as we can.
On Phyllis Friend ward there are nurses who are specially skilled at looking after patients with skin problems and there are dermatology doctors who are responsible for the care of inpatients.
Children are always admitted to the paediatric wards. Jean Robinson, paediatric dermatology nurse specialist, provides a liaison service between the adult and paediatric services to ensure seamless care.
Student doctors
The Royal London Hospital is a teaching hospital, and the dermatology department provides clinical teaching for more than three hundred medical students a year. The students value the opportunity to talk with patients, and to examine their skin, in the setting of a practising outpatient department. This hands-on learning experience forms a critical part of the understanding and appreciation of skin problems and is an invaluable part of doctors' training. We greatly appreciate your help with this. You will always be asked for your consent for students to be present, and you are welcome to decline if it would make you feel uncomfortable.
