Many patients worry that living far from a specialist centre will prevent them from accessing treatment for Dupuytren’s disease. This guide explains how Dupuytren’s UK makes radiotherapy accessible nationwide through central consultation, carefully planned treatment, and delivery closer to home wherever possible.
Many patients tell us they don’t live near a Dupuytren’s UK centre and wonder if they can still access care. If you’re exploring treatment options for Dupuytren’s disease but live several hours away from London or another major city without a nearby treatment centre, you may be wondering how to make your treatment journey easier – and that’s completely understandable.
We regularly support people from across the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Ireland, as well as those travelling from overseas. Our care pathway is designed to make treatment accessible even if you live far from a specialist centre. Through central consultation, careful planning, and treatment delivered as close to your home as possible, distance should not prevent you from receiving expert radiotherapy.
Your Consultation With Dr Shaffer and What Happens First
Dupuytren’s UK offers treatment in 15 locations across the UK, however face-to-face consultations currently take place in four main locations – London Cromwell Hospital, Wimbledon Cancer Centre London, Guildford and Nottingham. This first visit allows Dr Shaffer to assess your condition carefully and design a personalised treatment plan.
During your appointment, we review your medical history, examine the affected areas, and mark the exact regions that require treatment. The radiotherapy dose and schedule are then prescribed. This ensures your Dupuytren’s contracture treatment reflects the stage of your condition and gives you a clear understanding of the next steps.
This visit will answer practical questions about progression, expected outcomes, and treatment timing. It also helps determine whether radiotherapy is suitable at your stage of the condition. Please click here to read more about what to expect at your first appointment with Dr Shaffer.
How We Arrange Treatment Closer to Your Home
After your consultation, you can choose to have your treatment at any of our 15 centres located across the UK. Experienced radiographers at that centre then deliver the therapy according to the prescribed plan.
Radiotherapy differs from surgery because the consultant does not need to be present during the treatment sessions. Once the treatment areas and dose have been carefully prescribed by Dr Shaffer, the expert radiographers deliver the therapy safely and precisely as planned, while remaining in contact with us if advice is required. Dr Shaffer remains available to support patients and address any concerns during and after their treatment.
If you have searched online for a Dupuytren specialist in your area, you may already know that expertise can be limited in some regions. Our hub and spoke model allows you to benefit from specialist assessment while receiving treatment closer to home whenever possible.
When a Local Treatment Centre Is Available
For many people, the most convenient pathway involves attending a consultation at one of our main four centres and then completing treatment at a radiotherapy unit nearer to home. This reduces travel time and helps treatment fit more easily around your daily routine.
The typical schedule includes:
- Consultation and mark-up with Dr Shaffer
- A gap of approximately two to three weeks before treatment begins
- The first block of radiotherapy is delivered over five consecutive weekdays
- A second treatment block three months later
This structured approach ensures treatment is delivered safely and allows the skin time to recover between sessions.
Expert Non-Invasive Treatment for Dupuytren’s and Ledderhose Disease Across the UK
Dr Richard Shaffer set up Dupuytren’s UK in April 2011 to provide non-invasive treatments for people who suffer from benign conditions such as Ledderhose disease and early-stage Dupuytren’s contracture in the Guildford area. Today, Dupuytren’s UK offers this service to patients throughout the UK.
When There Is No Local Centre: Travel Options
If there isn’t a treatment centre in your area, we’ll help you make practical arrangements to ensure your treatment stays straightforward and manageable. Many people successfully travel for short periods to complete therapy.
Common approaches include:
- Daily commuting if a centre is within one or two hours’ travel
- Staying near the centre during the five-day treatment week
This approach is particularly common for those travelling from long distances (including overseas), and our administrative team can help you organise the practical details.
A Unique Option at Our Wimbledon Centre
Our Wimbledon centre offers a slightly different pathway. For those coming from long distances, patients can sometimes begin treatment on the same day or the day after their initial assessment.
This can help if you are travelling long distances and want to minimise separate visits. However, if you have access to a treatment unit closer to home, the standard pathway is still likely to be the most convenient option.
Follow-Up and Ongoing Support
Our care does not end when the treatment finishes. Three months after your treatment, we provide a follow-up questionnaire to monitor your progress, and many people do not need to return in person unless they wish to.
If questions arise during treatment, radiographers can contact Dr Shaffer directly, and we remain available to provide guidance. You can also arrange an in-person follow-up appointment if you prefer.
Some patients also ask about supportive approaches to help maintain hand function. We can guide you on appropriate measures alongside radiotherapy.
Planning Your Treatment if You Live Further Away
If you live far from a consultation or treatment centre, planning ahead can make the process straightforward. You may also want to consider:
- Travel and accommodation for the treatment weeks
- Whether commuting or staying locally is easier
- Arranging time off work
- Organising treatment around your other commitments
If you don’t have a treatment centre in your area, our team can help you plan your journey and make the necessary arrangements to ensure your experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Summary
Being a long way from our centres does not mean that you cannot receive specialist treatment. With central consultation, carefully organised radiotherapy, and treatment locally if possible, Dupuytren’s treatment is still available to you, no matter where you live. Our methodical pathway, travel support, and follow-up care mean that distance should not be a barrier to receiving suitable treatment.
If you would like to consider your options, please get in touch with our team at Dupuytren’s UK and let us know where you live. We’ll then help you choose the consultation location, treatment centre, and timing that work best for you.
