Cosmetic surgeons face investigation

Health chiefs are to launch a full investigation into cosmetic surgery, amid mounting fears over the quality of some clinics.

A spot-check by government inspectors in London revealed that many practices fail even to check their surgeons' qualifications and identities, raising serious questions over patient safety.

Their damning report today claims many clinics also mislead patients about what they can achieve.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson is so worried he has now ordered a full review of the industry.

Critics fear the booming market for treatments such as Botox, facelifts and liposuction has encouraged inexperienced general surgeons - many of whom trained overseas - to set up lucrative businesses offering cosmetic procedures, falsely marketing themselves as experts in the field.

The inspection by the health watchdog the National Care Standards Commission - the first of its kind commissioned by the Government - took place in March and April.

The survey of 22 small and mediumsized clinics in London found many scored poorly on procedures to check out their surgeons. Very few had robust systems for seeking patients' views.

Although some had a complaints policy, many fell short in helping people or relatives who were unhappy with their surgery.

The NCSC also highlighted misleading claims in advertising literature, such as "light treatment - beautiful skin without surgery - achieve amazing looking skin in under an hour."

It found some sole practitioners or small clinics had no robust systems to collect data on the quality of their clinical work or monitor performance.

NCSC chief executive Ron Kerr said: "There is no excuse for not carrying out proper checks on consultants and their qualifications, and good records management is essential for tracking patients' history and monitoring clinical activity.

"These elementary procedures provide vital safeguards." He said the report generally found small clinics and those run by sole doctors tended to do badly at monitoring quality and performance.

Cosmetic surgeons regularly appear before the General Medical Council. Patients who complain frequently claim they were lured into handing over thousands of pounds for treatment which had no chance of success.

The NCSC, which was set up in 2000 to inspect a range of social care, voluntary and private healthcare services, has recommended new self-assessment measures for specific surgery techniques to help clinics measure and monitor performance. It also called for a more thorough review of cosmetic surgery.

Sir Liam said that, prior to the NCSC, private clinics were inspected by individual health authorities. But they could not look into clinical practices and there were no national standards.

Sir Liam said the report was the "beginnings of scrutiny" in this area. "I would now like a full review of cosmetic surgery practice across England and I am in discussion with the NCSC as to how this might be taken forward."