P079 Treatment And Referral Pathways For Hair Loss In The National Health Service: A Patient Survey

    June 2025 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”
    Ahmed F. Hawwa, Thomas Harries, Caroline White, Matthew Harries
    TLDR Patients face long waits and misdiagnoses before getting proper hair loss treatment.
    A survey of 85 patients with alopecia areata (AA), female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) attending a specialist hair clinic revealed significant barriers in accessing timely and accurate treatment within the National Health Service. The study found that 88% of patients first consulted their GP, with a median waiting time of 2 months before their first medical visit. Only 30% received a correct diagnosis from their GP, and 41% faced difficulties in obtaining a referral to a dermatologist, with a median waiting time of 12 months. In contrast, 78% received a correct diagnosis on their first dermatologist visit, and 82% received treatment. The median waiting time to be seen in a specialist hair clinic was 3 years. The study highlights the need for improved pathways to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment for hair loss patients.
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