NHS
For many UK readers, the NHS will be the first port of call for information. There
are two major NHS sources to recommend – NHS Direct and the Skin Disorders Specialist
Library.
NHS Direct
Tel: 0845 4647 (24-hour helpline)
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
NHS Direct is accessible via either telephone or a large website that covers a vast
range of conditions and possible treatments. The easiest way to navigate it is to
use the fast and efficient search options, either typing a word or words in the search
box or accessing the encyclopaedia by clicking on letters of the alphabet.
Skin Disorders Specialist Library
www.library.nhs.uk/skin
This is described as being mainly for specialists: ‘Patients, carers and the general
public are welcome to use this site, but may wish to visit NHS Direct Online first.’
So, you can find out some background information, but some of the detailed information
is quite advanced.
Great Ormand Street Hospital (GOSH)
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
Great Ormond Street
London WC1N 3JH
Tel: 020 7405 9200
Fax: 020 7829 8643
www.ich.ucl.ac.uk
Also an NHS-operated website, GOSH offers a great deal of helpful and accessible
information for parents and children, including the factsheets mentioned in this
book. The factsheets can be accessed either via the above address, then choosing
options from the the menu (Publications>Factsheets), or <www.gosh.nhs.uk/factsheets>
and are available in Arabic, Bengali, Greek and Turkish.
Birthmark Support Group (BSG)
London WC1N 3XX
Tel: 0845 045 4700
www.birthmarksupportgroup.org.uk
This UK-based charity’s patron is Esther Rantzen. The BSG was set up by parents of
children with birthmarks in December 1998 at the suggestion of doctors from Great
Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Its objective is to provide a UK-based support
group for anyone with a birthmark and so now covers both adults and children. It
has a good deal of useful information and there are networking opportunities on the
website, including details of its Fun Days. It is a friendly organization, run by
people who understand the issues from the inside.
Red Cross
www.redcross.org.uk
This is a well-known UK charity that has his Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as
its president. It runs skin camouflage clinics throughout the country, offering advice,
colour matching and training. It will also fill in the forms that enable your GP
to write prescriptions for the creams you need. Its large website can be difficult
to navigate using the options so use the well-designed search function instead to
find references to ‘Camouflage’, which will bring up a list of areas that will enable
you to find your nearest clinic. For local offices and shops, you can also enter
postcode in the ‘Your area: Find your local services’ box on the home page. Alternatively,
as you will need your GP to refer you to use the service, he or she should also be
able to provide you with details of your nearest branch.
British Association of Dermatologists (BAD)
4 Fitzroy Square
London W1T 5HQ
Tel: 0207 383 0266
Fax: 0207 388-5263
E-mail: admin@bad.org.uk
www.bad.org.uk
The BAD is the central and long-established association of practising UK dermatologists,
the aim of which is to continually improve the treatment and understanding of skin
disease. Its website is provided as a resource for members of the public searching
for reliable information about the skin and skin diseases. You will find an excellent
selection of leaflets in PDF format, including information on birthmarks.
Birthmarks.com
www.birthmarks.com
An American website with an excellent range of articles and background information
covering laser treatment, camouflage and mentoring, giving advice and personal stories.
The story section is worth spending some time exploring as it contains a wealth of
experiences and much wisdom. There is a photo story for children about laser treatment.
Navigate from the home page to ‘Our stories’, then click on the link ‘Elizabeth's
Storybook: "Goodbye Mr. Birthmark"-- a story told in pictures’. Also in ‘Our stories’
you can find a detailed diary with photos of laser treatment going back to 1996 and
a streaming video. Simply navigate to ‘Michael’s Experience’. Birthmarks.com also
publishes an online newsletter, covering a variety of topics relating to birthmarks,
including contributions from people living with birthmarks, those outside the community,
such as experts of various kinds (dermatologists, make-up artists, psychologists,
laser surgeons, specialists, journalists and so on), and Birthmarks.com’s sponsors.
British Association of Skin Camouflage
PO Box 202
Macclesfield SK11 6FP
Tel: 01625 871129
www.skincamouflage.net
The association provides plenty of details about camouflage products and their use
and publishes a magazine – The Cover – that keeps readers up to date. There is also
information about training courses.
Vascular Birthmarks Foundation Europe
http://vbfeurope.org
The website provides lots of detailed information and a unique ‘Ask The Doctor’ service
via a Web-based form, supported on a voluntary basis by physicians who work with
VBF. Note that you are requested to only use this personal service if you are unable
to find the information you need on its extensive website. The site provides a translation
service into English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. Its American
sister site can be found at www.birthmark.org
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