About Us
Our Clinic
History and Vision
Dermatology Consulting was founded in 2006 and was the vision of Dr Anne Farrell. It was one of the first private clinics to be founded in the UK by a fully accredited Consultant Dermatologist at a time when there were less than 500 consultant dermatologists in the UK mainly working in the NHS or renting rooms in private hospitals. The aim was to offer clients the best dermatological care, based on the most recent, peer reviewed research under one roof. Dr Farrell had been inspired during her fellowship at the University of Miami, by US clinics offering expert dermatology advice for all ages (from children to the elderly) and for the full spectrum of skin conditions ranging from skin cancer, rashes, acne, aesthetic and laser treatments.
During her US fellowship Dr Farrell was also inspired by the growth in research of lasers which has opened up a whole range of new possible treatments including for scars, redness, pigmentation, wrinkles and hair issues. Such laser treatments were not usually available in the NHS. Dr Farrell has kept abreast of the latest research and regularly participates in the most influential international conferences and visits centres of excellence to insure our treatments are the most advanced. Dermatology Consulting has invested in the most up-to-date and effective lasers currently available and has among the widest range of lasers of any dermatology clinic in the UK.
Over the years the clinic has expanded with the inclusion of expert consultant dermatologists/plastic surgeons/nurses/laser therapists/admin staff who share Dr Farrell’s vision of providing the best and safest dermatological care. The clinic now has a staff of around 20 as well as 8 consultants.
Due to the wide range of professionals involved, Dermatology Consulting can offer the best care for every area of dermatology for the whole family, both medical and aesthetic.
We were awarded Outstanding at our last CQC Inspection.
We are committed to the original vision of providing the best and safest, evidence-based dermatology care.
The Clinic
The clinic is located in a large Edwardian house next to the historic Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. Private parking spaces are available in front of the clinic or for up to two hours on the road outside. Clients can sit in the waiting room or in the summer can enjoy the terrace and garden.
The clinic is fully regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission and was awarded Outstanding at its last inspection. It is recognised by the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (formerly called Treatments You Can Trust). The clinic has wheelchair access and disabled facilities as well as 10 treatment rooms and a dedicated photography studio. There is also a skin care product room and a Visia™ skin analysis system as well as a collection of selected skin care products chosen because of their benefits for different skin problems. We can dispense appropriate medication from the clinic to avoid delays in starting treatment.
The clinic has a range of the most up-to-date equipment chosen for effective treatment of a variety of skin conditions including medical microdermabrasion, photodynamic therapy, LED light treatment, Hydrafacial and at least 13 different laser and energy devices.
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Your First Visit
Prior to your first visit you will be sent an email which includes a registration form, a medical questionnaire, details about our fees and an introduction to your Carebit Portal. The Carebit Portal is a secure electronic record system which can be accessed by you and your dermatologist for your letters, email communications, record of invoices and photos. It is not necessary for you to use it, but most patients find it a useful way to store the records of their visits and treatment plan.
During the first visit you will have a full consultation with one of our consultant dermatologists to cover your skin concern. If appropriate, the dermatologist may also examine other sites of the skin, as sometimes other sites of the body can be similarly affected. (e.g. in the case of sun damage).
Your dermatologist will discuss with you the diagnoses, relevant investigations and treatment plan. Some investigations can be done on the day, but others may need approval from your insurance company. Your dermatologist will also suggest a treatment plan and provide relevant information leaflets. The clinic also has available on site many of the medications and skin care products that may be required as part of the treatment plan and we can dispense these on the day. We also provide a postal service so that repeat requests for product can be supplied.
Your dermatologist may give you some notes and handouts on the day but will usually also follow up the consultation with a typed report which will be emailed to you through your Carebit Portal within a few days, summarising the discussion. If you are attending about medical dermatology or skin cancer, a copy of the report is usually also sent to your General Practitioner so that he/she is aware of the dermatologist’s recommendations. If you are attending for purely a cosmetic reason and do not wish the consultant to send a copy of the report to you GP then we will respect your wishes.
If you are funding the consultation and treatment through insurance, it is important that you obtain an authorisation number for the consultation before the visit. Our consultant dermatologists and plastic surgeons work with most of the major insurance companies. If you need to have a procedure done your consultant will provide you with a procedure code and you will usually need to inform your insurance company of this procedure code to obtain an authorisation number for the investigations and treatment. If required, your consultant can write to your insurance company with a medical report. If you are using medical insurance it is important to understand the terms and conditions of your insurance and whether there is an excess or limit.
Our dermatologists’ fees are agreed with the insurance companies in advance, and they always charge within the insurance company recommended fees so you should not have an unexpected shortfall. For patients who are self funding, the fees will be emailed prior to the appointment and are displayed in the waiting room. They can also be posted to emailed to you whenever required.
Following your visit our reception team can assist you in booking the recommended treatments. If you have any queries at any stage you can contact us either on the phone, or email or via your Carebit portal and our friendly team will answer your query as soon as possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact our friendly dermatology team if you have any questions about the visit or fees.
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