Kent and Medway: Dermatology patients 'exposed to risk of harm'

A private company carrying out dermatology services has had its contract suspended by the NHS over concerns about patients safety.

DMC Healthcare ran the service which oversaw the care of almost 2,000 patients in north Kent and Medway for more than a year. NHS bosses says those patients may have been harmed and the contract was suspended in June.

A helpline has been set up to ensure affected patients are seen by GPs and follow-up treatment can be arranged.

Paula Wilkins, Chief Nurse at Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "In mid-June we suspended most of DMC's dermatology service when we became concerned about patient safety."

"I'm very sorry to say, we now know there have been delays in appointments, including for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, and that has exposed people to the risk of harm."

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Source: BBC News, 21 July 2020