Dermatology - Royal North Shore Hospital

Dermatology is a speciality of medicine for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the skin, hair, nails, mouth and genitals. The Dermatology Dept. at RNSH hospital has been established to provide evidence based and cutting edge care for a wide range of skin diseases. This  includes rare and very severe conditions, that require treatments not accessible to the public elsewhere in NSW. We are a tertiary referral service consisting of highly qualified Doctors and specialist Nurses, and are internationally recognised for our research into skin diseases.

Our specialised clinics

• Mohs micrographic surgery - for skin non-melanoma skin cancers on the head and neck
• Vulval clinics - for general dermatology concerns as well as laser therapy for vulvo-vaginal disease
• Male genital Dermatology clinics - tertiary referral clinic for sexual health physicians and Dermatologists.
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Post-transplant clinics - for patients who are immunosuppressed as a result of undergoing an organ transplant
• Paediatric Dermatology - to treat patients up to the age of 18 with skin complaints including eczema, psoriasis, birthmarks, acne and skin infections
• General Dermatology - inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis from different causes, skin infections, wound management including acute and chronic wounds associated with diseases that involve the skin, such as; Pyoderma gangrenosum, chronic venous disease and pressure ulcers.
• Phototherapy - UVA/UVB light therapy for a wide range of skin disorders, including oral PUVA
• Biologics -systemic treatments for patients with disabling inflammatory skin concerns not responsive to conventional therapies
• Skin surgery clinics - surgical management of cutaneous tumours
• Neurofibromatosis skin clinics - run by the genetics department to treat the skin problems found with Neurofibromatosis patients

• Blood results
• Test results
• List of current medications
• Referral

Our specialist clinics include; Mohs micrographic surgery (for the removal of non-melanoma skin cancers of the head and neck), the Vulval clinic, where we are able to offer a range of services including laser therapy, and Paediatric Dermatology; which supports children and their families suffering from skin disorders. The department runs a Phototherapy Unit (PUVA /NBUVB) onsite for patients suffering with a variety of skin issues such as Eczema, Psoriasis, Vitiligo and skin lymphoma. Access to Biologic treatment is also available for patients with certain conditions not responsive to conventional treatments.

The following conditions should be immediately referred to the Emergency Department and be discussed with the on call dermatology registrar:

• Extensive blistering including suspected toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Purpuric (bruise-like) rashes
• Widespread and symptomatic drug eruptions
• Erythroderma (>90% body rash)
• Generalised pustular psoriasis
• Eczema herpeticum
• Skin infections in immunosuppressed patients
   

The RNSH Dermatology Clinic is unable to provide a service for the following:

• Routine skin checks
• Venous ulceration (refer to Vascular Clinic)
• Cosmetic conditions or cosemetic laser

Referral type

• GP referral
• Medical referral

All Dermatology referrals must include a consultant being referred to in RNSH outpatients. If unsure, please address to Professor Gayle Fischer and Associates.

All referrals must include patients details including:

• telephone number,
• the reason for referral
• clinical findings
• treatment to date
• provisional diagnosis
• the impact on the patient
• any significant medical history, medications and relevant social information

Please indicate preferred language if an interpreter is required.

Please attach results of any investigations to the referral and ensure the patient brings hard copies to their appointment. This will help avoid unnecessary duplication of tests, additional appointments and delay.

Out of area referrals provided by specialists are accepted for some clinics. The service or problem needs to be documented on referral. Referrals with insufficient information will be returned until further information is provided to the clinic.

Is there a cost to patients to attend the clinic?

All consults are bulk billed under Medicare. Patients without Medicare will incur a fee.

• Australasian College of Dermatologists
• DermNet NZ
• British Association of Dermatology
• American Academy of Dermatology
• Melanoma Institute Australia
• Sunsmart
• My Psoriasis
• The Australian and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Eczema