PATIENTS say they have been left in limbo after the entire dermatology department at a Colchester hospital resigned.

Patients with skin complaints trying to rearrange appointments at Essex County Hospital have been told there is no one to see them.

All three of the unit’s clinical staff left last month.

Some patients fear they could be left without vital medication because their specialist drugs cannot be prescribed by a GP.

One patient, who suffers from psoriasis and is prescribed the drug Fumaderm, had an appointment cancelled on Tuesday.

He said when he called to rearrange, he was told to go and see his GP instead.

He added: “I was just told: ‘They have all finished’.

“I have been left in limbo as I was supposed to go on Tuesday and everything would have been sorted. I asked who I could see and they said we have not got anyone else at all and there is nothing they can do.

“These tablets are fantastic.

They help me so much, but they have to be prescribed by a specialist.

I don’t knowwhat will happen if I stop taking them and I really don’t want to find out.”

A statement from the trust’s board said all dermatology medical staff at Essex County Hospital had resigned and, although it had been hoped patients could be referred to Ipswich Hospital by March 1, it was now more likely to be from June 1.

The statement said: “We are facing significant issues due to the resignation of all medical dermatology staff and the trust is working in partnership with Ipswich Hospital Trust and the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group onamedium to long-term solution whereby Ipswich will assume lead provider responsibility for the service.”

A spokesman for the Colchester trust confirmed: “Our only substantive consultant dermatologist, locum consultant and a parttime associate specialist all left last month.

“However, GP referrals of patients with suspected skin cancer continue to be seen in Colchester, but by specialists employed by Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust.”

The spokesman claimed dermatology outpatients could be seen in Colchester by consultants.

He added: “The trust is committed to a dermatology service in Colchester and is working hard to achieve this objective for the medium to long term.”

The trust is working with two sets of external consultants, Concordia Health, and Medinet, to make sure patients are seen as quickly as possible in Colchester.

The dermatology service was due to move to Colchester General Hospital when Essex County Hospital closes this year.