GPSJ Autumn 2024 ONLINE - Flipbook - Page 43
NHS & HEALTHCARE
Di昀昀erent countries have taken
varied approaches to regulating
cosmetic surgery, each with
its own set of strengths and
weaknesses. South Korea, known
for its high volume of cosmetic
procedures, has strict regulations,
including rigorous certi昀椀cation
processes for surgeons and
regular clinic inspections to
maintain high standards. The
United States requires board
certi昀椀cation for cosmetic surgeons
and mandates that procedures be
carried out in accredited facilities.
In Australia, regulations emphasise
the importance of informed
consent, stating that practitioners
must provide comprehensive
information about the risks and
bene昀椀ts of procedures to potential
patients.
By studying these international
models, the UK can identify best
practices that could be adapted
to its own regulatory framework.
Such adaptations could lead to
improved patient safety, higher
satisfaction rates, and a more
trustworthy cosmetic surgery
industry overall.
In England, all independent
hospitals and clinics that o昀昀er
cosmetic surgery need to be
registered with the Quality Care
Commission. The CQC publishes
quality ratings online, and the
hospitals must make sure that
all sta昀昀 members are properly
trained. Also, only registered
doctors are allowed to perform
cosmetic procedures. The General
Medical Council has a list of all
registered doctors. This all helps
to maintain a certain standard, but
does it go far enough?
Suggested Regulatory
Actions
and regulation of the industry.
At Longevita we require patients
to complete a detailed medical
history form before leaving their
home country. If we identify any
condition listed among the NHS’s
mental health conditions, we
ask the patient to inform their
GP about their intention to travel
for medical treatment. We also
require them to provide a GP letter
con昀椀rming the GP’s approval for
such travel. We’d like to see these
standards become mandatory
across the industry.
There are several regulations
and systems that should be
established in the cosmetic
surgery industry, but here is what
we believe is needed to ensure
safety in the industry:
First of all, there should be a
level of mandatory complications
quali昀椀cations for all cosmetic
surgeons, ensuring they possess
the necessary training and
expertise. Alongside this, there
should be a comprehensive
system for verifying surgeons’
credentials
Secondly, there should be
standardised industry-wide
protocols for patient screening
and aftercare.
Thirdly, regular inspections
and audits of cosmetic surgery
clinics should be implemented to
ensure adherence to established
standards and guidelines.
Lastly, a centralised registry
for tracking patient outcomes
and practitioner performance
should be established. This will
provide valuable data, allowing the
regulatory bodies to continually
re昀椀ne and improve their oversight
Summary and Urgent
Appeal for Action
Implementing mandatory
quali昀椀cations, standardised patient
screening, and comprehensive
aftercare protocols are crucial
steps in ensuring the safety and
e昀케cacy of cosmetic surgery
procedures. It is essential to
involve General Practitioners in the
preoperative process, allowing for
a more thorough assessment of
a patient’s suitability for surgery.
This collaborative approach can
help mitigate potential risks and
enhance patient outcomes.
Learning from international
models can provide valuable
insights for establishing a robust
regulatory framework in the UK.
Policymakers should prioritise
patient protection by establishing
laws that demand these
standards, while healthcare
providers must fully commit to
adhering to these regulations.
By adopting and adapting these
best practices, we can elevate the
standards of the cosmetic surgery
industry, ultimately ensuring higher
patient satisfaction and safety.
General Practitioners’ Role
in Cosmetic Procedures
GPs’ intimate knowledge of a
patient’s medical history and
overall health makes them
invaluable in assessing whether
an individual is 昀椀t to undergo
a cosmetic procedure. Before
any surgery, patients should
disclose their intentions to their
GP, who can then evaluate any
potential risks and provide advice
accordingly.
GPSJ
In certain cases, obtaining a
GP approval letter is vital, as it
certi昀椀es that the patient’s health
has been thoroughly assessed
and that they are deemed suitable
for surgery. This can prevent
complications due to underlying
health conditions or mental health
issues.
All independent hospitals and
clinics that provide cosmetic
surgery in England must be
registered with the Care Quality
Commission (CQC). Check if the
hospital or clinic is registered with
the CQC, or ask them to show
you its certi昀椀cate.
The CQC publishes quality
ratings online, and hospitals and
clinics must make sure all sta昀昀 are
properly trained to safely do their
job.
Only registered doctors can
perform cosmetic surgery in
England.
You should check if someone is
a registered doctor or surgeon on
the General Medical Council online
register.
Some surgeons have a
cosmetic surgery certi昀椀cate from
the Royal College of Surgeons
(RCS). This means they’ve been
assessed and they meet an
agreed national standard.
The RCS has a list of certi昀椀ed
cosmetic surgeons.
Some surgeons are also
members of professional
associations, which make
sure they have the relevant
quali昀椀cations, experience and
insurance to perform particular
types of surgery.
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