Guy's and St Thomas' dermatology team wins national award

A Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust dermatology team has won a prestigious national award.

The Trust’s National XP service received the dermatology team of the year award at the British Medical Journal’s BMJ awards.

The team was recognised for providing outstanding care to patients with Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP).  People with the condition are not able to repair the damage caused to their skin by the ultraviolet (UV) part of daylight.  They can burn easily and can also develop eye, nerve or brain problems, and are more likely to develop skin cancers.

The service was set up by Dr Robert Sarkany, consultant dermatologist at St John’s Institute of Dermatology at Guy’s and St Thomas’, in 2010 with support from the XP patient group. 

As part of the service patients attend an annual multidisciplinary clinic where they can see a dermatologist, dermatological surgeon, ophthalmologist, neurologist, neuropsychologist, geneticist, and specialist nurse.

The specialist nurse also visits the patient at home and gives advice, for example on fitting ultraviolet protective window films as a preventative measure. The service has reduced the number of appointments and the amount of unnecessary surgery. 

Dr Bob Sarkany said:  “The National XP team is honoured to have been awarded the British Medical Journal dermatology team of the year award.

“The XP team is a diverse group of nurses and doctors from six specialties, laboratory scientists, research academics and patient representatives. What unites us is a commitment to making life easier for patients and their families. The team’s work is leading to patients having a longer life expectancy.

“Sandra Webb, founder of the XP Support Group, recently described the tragedy of children with XP dying of skin cancer before the service was established, and how no child with XP in Britain has died of skin cancer since the service started.

“This award is recognition of the dedication and ingenuity of the XP team. It also recognises the imagination and ambition of Guy’s and St Thomas’, a Trust which provides an environment where innovative services are supported and can thrive.”