§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to speed up treatment of dermatologically related diseases. [13451]
§ Mr. HoramThe organisation of health services and the manner in which they are delivered are matters for health authorities in their role as purchasers of services for their populations.
However, my Department is aware of a few commercial projects in their very early stages which use televisual means in an effort to help deal with the workload in dealing with skin conditions. I understand that the process involves the general practitioner sending an e-mail picture of the patient's skin condition to a consultant dermatologist along with clinical details. The consultant can review the pictures in his own time and either give advice to the GP on management with suitable protocols or suggest a live consultation.