New Newtown clinic treats eczema, psoriasis and vitiligo

A new clinic has opened in Geelong, and aims to make accessing care simpler for people with common skin conditions.

A new dermatology clinic has opened up in Pakington St. Clinic manager Diane Jamieson. Picture: Mark Wilson

A new clinic helping patients with skin conditions has opened in Geelong, with hopes it will help combat a dermatologist shortage.

Dermatology Clinics Australia has opened a practice in Newtown, which treats eczema, psoriasis and vitiligo.

Dr Shobhan Manoharan, co-founder and medical director at Dermatology Clinics Australia, said these were common conditions people were having access problems with.

Often patients with these conditions required frequent treatment known as phototherapy, Dr Manoharan said.

Dermatology Clinics Australia Newtown manager Diane Jamieston at the new Pakington St clinic. Picture: Mark Wilson

He said there was a “serious under-supply” of dermatologists in Geelong and patients faced long waits to see the specialists.

It was not feasible for patients to travel to Melbourne for frequent, short treatments, he said.

The Pakington St clinic uses a “hybrid telehealth model” — there are no dermatologists on site, but clinicians like nurses and therapists take patients’ history and give education.

They send reports to Dr Manoharan, who is based in Brisbane, or other dermatologists based in metropolitan centres.

The specialists can prescribe a treatment plan which is followed up by the on-site team.

Dr Manoharan said if patients required urgent face-to-face specialist care that could be facilitated with dermatologist contacts, but patients coming to the clinic could largely be managed with the model in place.

The model has also been used at another site in Sydney and there are plans to roll out more clinics around regional Australia.

Dermatologist Dr Tim O’Brien, who spent decades caring for Geelong patients, retired at the end of last year.

Barwon Health dermatologist Dr Joshua Elakis said the introduction of a public dermatology service at the organisation was positive.

“The service commenced in mid-2021 and is now delivering around 30 consults per week,” he said.

He said Barwon Health saw patients for common conditions like eczema, psoriasis and skin cancer.

“Skin disease can potentially be life-threatening, such as melanoma, or debilitating, such as patients with inflammatory skin diseases,” he said.

“Our dermatologists have expertise in treating life-threatening conditions, meaning patients can now be treated closer to home.”

Patients waiting for an urgent dermatology appointment were seen within 30 days, Dr Elakis said.

Originally published as New Newtown clinic treats eczema, psoriasis and vitiligo