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Dewsbury doctors publish sexual health guide
31 January 2008
Two pioneering clinicians from Dewsbury and District Hospital are helping other doctors to diagnose common skin problems and sexually transmitted infections more easily.
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Consultant in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) Dr Ariyaratne De Silva and consultant dermatologist Dr Manu Shah have recently had their book, ‘The Male Genitalia’, published by Radcliffe Publishing Ltd and the pair also received a commendation for their idea for the book as part of the publisher’s writing competition.
The illustrated quick-reference guide is already being used in clinics and surgeries up and down the country to help doctors who work in primary care, as well as in dermatology and GUM medicine, with the aim of making diagnosis of common genital infections and skin problems quicker, easier and more effective. |
Dermatology and genito-urinary medicine are commonly practised as separate specialties within hospitals in the UK but Dr Shah and Dr De Silva have broken this mould by working collaboratively across the two specialties. Their new way of working has proved to be an excellent model of intra-speciality partnership working that is providing benefits to their patients.
Dr De Silva said: “The rates of sexually transmitted infections are rising rapidly in many countries, including our own, with a recent dramatic increase in infections like HIV and syphilis being major contributors to this. As problems of the male genitals become more and more common, male health is growing in importance and early detection of such conditions is becoming increasingly important as men are recognising the need to look after their bodies and their sexual health more.
“As a result, increasing numbers of patients with genital disease are visiting different places for their diagnosis and treatment including their GP surgery, their local sexual health clinic and hospital dermatology departments and urology clinics.”
Dr Shah said: “I feel an important role of a hospital consultant is to work with and support our primary care colleagues. The aim of this book is to provide them with a helpful resource which will aid in the diagnosis of sexual health conditions commonly affecting men.”
The two consultants have already received positive feedback and support for the book from their colleagues that work in many different areas of The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, from the urology department to the Accident and Emergency department.
Dr Adrian Kerner is a consultant in emergency care at the Trust. Adrian said: “This excellent resource demonstrates the collaborative work of two very different specialties, bringing together the knowledge of both. The book examines common problems that are often encountered in clinical practice and it’s an invaluable aid to any practitioner who deals with such problems, including GPs.
“There are many key points and useful tips which look at management and treatment of conditions such as lumps, rashes, ulcers and a range of sexually transmitted diseases and the high standard of illustrative work adds to this very commendable and informative collaboration. The appendices offer valuable resources including support groups and societies that assist both patients and clinicians.”
Dr De Silva and his team provide an open access service, offering confidential advice and treatment from the Chadwick Centre at Dewsbury and District Hospital. Doctors, nurses and health advisors at the centre also offer contraception and health advice, appointments without patients needing a referral, free condoms, full screening for sexually transmitted infections and HIV screening, advice, treatment and counselling.
Dr De Silva added: “Through the publication of our book, we’d also like to continue to encourage anyone who has taken a risk to contact our GUM teams, who always treat patients in a strictly confidential and sensitive manner. We understand that contacting a sexual health clinic can be a stressful and worrying experience, so we want to make sure that we can alleviate that worry as soon as we can by getting patients an appointment with our specially trained staff, and, if necessary, treatment as early as possible.
“Many common infections like chlamydia have no symptoms and so patients are often unaware that they have the infection. But it’s important that they are diagnosed and treated early to prevent complications such as ectopic pregnancies, infertility and chronic abdominal pain at a later stage in life.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- ‘The Male Genitalia’ comes fully illustrated with colour photographs and is targeted at clinicians who may treat men with genital rashes, skin lesions and sexually transmitted disease. It covers, in detail, the broad area of male genital disease involving dermatology and genito-urinary medicine.
- To buy ‘The Male Genitalia’ or for further information on the book go to: http://www.radcliffe-oxford.com/books/bookdetail.aspx?ISBN=1846190401
- Dr De Silva and his team of GUM staff at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust are the only team nationally to receive the Charter Mark for the past nine consecutive years for meeting the Government’s criteria of excellence in the delivery of public services.
- ‘Primary care’ describes the health services that play a central role in the local community such as family doctors (GPs), pharmacists, dentists and midwives.
Issued by Charlotte Farrar
01924 213851
charlotte.farrar@midyorks.nhs.uk
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