TENS of thousands of patients, including many with suspected skin cancer, will benefit from a £1m dermatology unit which opened in the region yesterday.

The new unit, at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, provides improved facilities for the 45,000 patients who use the dermatology service every year.

Demand is high, with patients with skin disorders making up about a third of all outpatient referrals to the hospital.

The unit, on the hospital’s second floor, brings together a suite of consulting rooms, rooms for leg ulcer and daily psoriasis treatments, two operating theatres and a phototherapy suite, featuring the latest ultra-violet treatment machines.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Mary Carr said: “We have created a much lighter and more spacious environment for the service, with the latest technology and equipment.

“About 40 per cent of our workload is now suspected skin cancer and we are undertaking increasingly complex surgery, so the new operating theatres are essential.”

Dr Carr said the unit will offer a comprehensive service for chronic skin diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis The unit, which provides dermatology services for County Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside, was opened by Durham City MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods.

One of the guests was psoriasis sufferer Joseph Citrone, from Chester-le-Street, who has benefited from improvements in treatment in recent years.

Mr Citrone, 62, who has been clear of skin complaints for two years, said: “Treatment through the service has transformed my life – it has been amazing.

“I’ve suffered from psoriasis most of my life and had extremely painful plaques on my knees, back, hands and elbows, which had stopped me doing many everyday things, but after seeing the dermatology specialists and trying a combination of ultra-violet light treatment together with drugs my skin has been clear for two years.”

Mr Citrone said he now felt “normal” again. “I have even been swimming which is something I was too embarrassed to do before,” he said.

“The service, and the amazing doctors and nurses, really deserve recognition.”