Health chief seeks proper regulation of cosmetic surgery

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, has said that cosmetic surgery facilities need to be properly regulated.

Sir Liam also said that patients needed to be better informed before deciding to undergo treatment.

His comments came as he outlined a series of measures designed to provide better training for doctors, clearer information for patients and tougher regulations for the private cosmetic surgery industry.

He said: "Cosmetic procedures are a rapidly growing area of private healthcare. Many people spend their hard-earned money on these services and a minority can suffer serious harm or disfigurement. Standards in the cosmetic treatment field must be as high as other areas of health care."

A report by an expert group to examine the cosmetic surgery industry found that, while there was no firm evidence of harm to patients under the current regulations, the fact that their was rapid growth in the industry and new procedures being continuously developed, meant that a more robust regulatory structure was required.

The CMO said that better training for surgeons undertaking cosmetic surgery was a "matter of urgency" and confirmed that the relevant professional bodies have been asked to develop specialist training programmes. He also said that there were plans to bring additional cosmetic procedures, such as the use of aesthetic fillers such as collagen and Botox treatment within the regulatory remit of the main health regulator, the Healthcare Commission, by the end of the year.

Other measures that were introduced by the CMO included a requirement for all cosmetic surgeons and nurses to provide patients with details of their qualifications and registration; consistently enforcing the current legislation and regulation governing the use of lasers and improving the recording of data of complaints by the General Medical Council.

Andrew Vallence-Owen, BUPA Group Medical Director, said: "Cosmetic surgery is one of the fastest growing segments of the private healthcare market and patients need to know that their surgeon is not only fully qualified but highly trained and experienced and a specialist in their field. We must establish proper training and accreditation in cosmetic surgery so I urge the profession to urgently address the recommendations in this report."

He added: "Procedures, for instance those using Botox, must be better regulated and we have to get tough with the cowboy operators. Low standards, although only practised by a few, damage patients and give everyone working in this area a bad name."

(KMcA/SP)