Dr Ian Whitcroft

Dr Ian Whitcroft 2019-02-13 Person 1 5 0

Attended this doctor as I had been suffering with deep erosive sub epidermal blisters which were suspected as being pemphigoid.This doctor told me that they were caused by my nervous system and that there was no known reason why some people get them.He handed me a leaflet on “pruritus nodulosa “I had been having them periodically since 2012 .they do not pop are any where from 5cm to 15cm diameter and appear on an erythmatous rash which fades leaving only the big bullous blister .His diagnosis was pruritus nodulus which I accepted though not confident in his diagnosis .after several weeks later at my gp surgery as a nurse had put negative and derogatory remarks on my records (because I had not wanted to sign a pharmaceutical waiver to allow them access to my data).I requested my records and Dr Whitcroft had put a diagnosis of “dermatitis artefacta” on my record .This is the first time I had heard of this and immediately googled the condition and was shocked beyond all reason .This is apparently a very serious medical condition which would mean that I was creating these sub epidermal blisters myself.It is a very very serious mental health condition and my family should have been at the very least notified .I had been offered no support with this and wanted answers so we contacted PALS who arranged a meeting .We drew up a letter whereby this dermatologist was to sign a document to say that this diagnosis that he put on my file was absolutely correct and he was certain of his diagnosis based on his five minutes in my company and having only seen an eroding blister. He refused to sign agreement to his diagnosis and refused to acknowledge the mental and emotional damage this accusation on my character made for any future care I may require. And what recompense for damages this inaccurate diagnosis would obviously create if it is proven to be anything other than this extremely serious mental health condition.Well 10 months later a bullous blister appeared I went immediately to a different dermatologist who did a biopsy and confirmed not only was it a sub epidermal blister which means I could not have done it to myself but that it was a complication of my diabetes called bullosa diabeticorum. I have never heard a word of apology or seen any form of compensation from this doctor but we have kept all the evidence and to this day his diagnosis of dermatitis artefacta is on my medical record still having an impact in my daily care. This is not a dermatologist I would recommend any patient attending.My biggest disappointment was however the Pals lady she was brilliantly supportive ,attending meetings with this dermatologist,but admitted to us that at the end of the day,she works for the NHS and could do nothing further to help us despite agreeing that what had been done to me was very wrong.