NHS closures raise amputation risk for those with skin conditions

NHS closures to non-Covid patients mean that those with treatable skin conditions now face a heightened risk of amputation, experts have said.

A leading charity is warning that “tens of thousands” of people with rare autoimmune diseases may be missing the chance to prevent life-altering complications, with many not having seen a specialist since before the pandemic.

Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) today directly challenges the assertion by health chiefs that the NHS was open to all who needed it during the crisis.

It warns that patients have been left to cope at home with no treatment or advice, while their skin gets thicker and tighter. A common complication of Raynaud’s, if the condition is allowed to progress, can be digital ulcers and sores, which can necessitate amputation of the fingers.

Rheumatologists and dermatologists were among the army of NHS clinicians redeployed to Covid wards during the virus’s first and second waves, and are working through towering backlogs.

A survey last year by Scleroderma UK found that 80 per cent of the roughly 19,000 patients it represents had suffered interrupted care.

Meanwhile, people with scleroderma faced a 44 per cent higher chance of dying during the pandemic, compared with a 38 per cent higher chance among the general population, according to a

study published in Rheumatology last December. The charity believes this reflects the fact that those with autoimmune issues are likely to be more vulnerable to the virus, but it is also investigating whether part of the toll is down to indirect effects of the pandemic, such as disruptions to care.

Scleroderma happens when the immune system causes the body to make too much collagen. It can also affect internal tissue, including organs such as the heart. In many cases, symptoms can be managed by an Iloprost infusion, which takes several hours in hospital, often on multiple days.

Sue Farrington, the chief executive of

SRUK, said: “There are tests which need to be done within the right time frame to detect any organ damage before it becomes too serious, all of which is being delayed.”

Sara McAreavey, a 32-year-old pharmaceutical worker from Hull, was diagnosed with Raynaud’s disease, which affects the blood vessels in the hands, at the end of 2019.

“She has not seen a rheumatologist since January 2020. It’s been a nightmare,” she said.