The Mail on Sunday recently published an article highlighting the lack of training provided by the NHS to cosmetic surgeons for certain procedures such as breast augmentation and facelifts. The article was published just days after Health Education England released the first part of its review into training for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
You can read the full article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2754623/Stop-cosmetic-surgery-cowboys-Doctors-admit-training-essential-cosmetic-operations.html
The Mail on Sunday polled 500 clinicians and 2,000 women, reporting that ‘hundreds of doctors said newly qualified consultants were not competent enough to perform specialist operations like boob jobs and facelifts.’
Alarmingly there is no requirement for surgeons to complete any further accredited training. Out of the women polled, three quarters said they would feel ‘more confident’ if surgeons were required to undergo more specialised training. A mere 7 per cent of the doctors polled believed that NHS training was adequate.
These results will come as a shock to anyone contemplating this type of procedure. Cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and across the world. Significant numbers venture abroad for their surgery as it is often cheaper. Some people go as part of a package deal, combining a short city break with a cosmetic procedure.
As specialist lawyers dealing with cosmetic surgery claims, we are regularly contacted by patients who are disappointed with the outcome. Usually, this does not constitute ‘medical negligence’ in the legal sense and can generally be attributed to poor communication by the surgeon leading to unrealistic expectations on the part of the patient. However, sometimes the surgery performed is so poor that it would amount to ‘negligence’ and give rise to a legal claim for compensation.
Medical negligence solicitor, Oliver Thorne, welcomes the spotlight that The Mail on Sunday is shining on this corner of medical practice. He comments:
‘It’s important to encourage people considering cosmetic surgery to ensure that the surgeon they consult is reputable and experienced. They also need to consider the surgeon’s position in terms of the aftercare being made available. It is vital for patients to make sure, when entering into an agreement for surgery, that they know whether their agreement is with the clinic which introduced them to the surgeon or the surgeon themselves. It is also important to find out whether the surgeon has adequate insurance, just in case the cosmetic surgery goes wrong.’
Oliver Thorne is an experienced clinical negligence lawyer dealing with cosmetic surgery compensation claims on a No Win – No Fee basis. He can be contacted on freePHONE 0808 1391592 or by emailing [email protected]