Maintaining standards of aesthetic practice in trainees subject to NHS restrictions

Abstract

The Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) in plastic surgery within the United Kingdom (UK) recommends a modular training programme to include aesthetic surgery. The intercollegiate board examinations test candidates on all aspects of aesthetic practice yet there is no formal, national aesthetic training in the UK. Closure of National Health Service (NHS) private patient facilities has reduced training opportunity [Nicolle FV. Sir Harold Gillies Memorial Lecture; Aesthetic plastic surgery and the future plastic surgeon. Br J Plast Surg 1998;51:419-24.] Calmanisation [Hospital doctors: training for the future. The Report of the Working Group on Specialist Medical Training (The Calman Report). London: HMSO; 1993.], the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) [; Phillips H, Fleet Z, Bowman K. The European Working time Directive-interim report and guidance from The Royal College of Surgeons of England working party chaired by Mr Hugh Phillips; 2003 []; Chesser S, Bowman K, Phillips H. The European Working Time Directive and the training of surgeons. BMJ Careers Focus 2002;s69-7.], and more importantly the implementation of "local" aesthetic guidelines have placed further pressures on training. Reductions of NHS case mix will ultimately lead to a reduction in trainee experience. With increasing regulatory pressure from the Commission for Healthcare Improvement, standards of aesthetic practice can only be maintained by increasing private/independent sector involvement. At present a disparity exists between the demand and provision of aesthetic surgery training in the UK. Aesthetic surgery forms part of the training curriculum for plastic surgery and as such remains a training issue. A review of aesthetic surgery training is needed in the UK through consultation with trainers and trainee representatives.