The UK’s Department of Health(DOH) has published the terms of reference for its forthcoming review of the PIP scandal. The press release can be found here.
Essentially two reviews will be held, the first chaired by Lord Howe, Minister for Quality and the second by Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director.
The first review will deal with what happened and the second with what we’re going to do about it, in other words whether the cosmetic industry per se is adequately regulated, who’s to blame when something goes wrong and what improvements are needed in systems for reporting patient outcomes, including adverse events, for central analysis and surveillance. This last point seems to have been a major issue in the PIP situation, because without appropriate data the authorities have been left floundering about picking up often conflicting data from around the world.
Lord Howe’s report will be complete by the end of March this year. Contrastingly the second report will take another year, given its potential complexity.
Botox and Dermal Fillers also in the Spotlight, alongside Practitioners
Commenting on the review, Sir Bruce Keogh said; “I am working with experts from the plastic surgery field to look at what we can do to make sure people who choose to have cosmetic surgery and other cosmetic procedures are safe.
“I will be looking at all aspects of regulation – at the regulation of implants and fillers, at whether the people who carry out cosmetic interventions have the right skills, at whether the clinics look after the care and welfare of their patients. This would include treatments such as cosmetic surgery, botox injections and dermal fillers and other cosmetic treatments where there is a potential risk to health.
Implant register?
“There is already considerable support for a comprehensive register of significant surgical devices – from breast implants to heart valves to replacement joints. We will be looking critically at the value and feasibility of such a register and at how best to put this into action.”
Source: Department of Health
published: January 26, 2012 in: Plastic/Reconstructive, Regulatory