Ok jno, as you wish. Should Cosmetic surgery for vanity.....

[R1Geezer]

and sex change operations be paid for by the NHS?

[bednobs]

No, and in the main, it isn't.
I work for a PCT and part of my job used to be helping the priorities committee. This committee used to decide what treatments would be "Low priority" on the NHS. Cosmetic surgery, sex change and tattoo removal were all considered "low priority" this means that no-one got them unless they could argue they were a special case - all the people who wanted to say they were a special case had to go to a panel to say why and then a decision was made. For IVF, if either partner had a living child, either naturally or by adoption, they were excluded, there was an age limit, plus a weight limit too

[woofgang]

I used to advise a member of the priorities committee to, before I retired. As I have said on another thread, what is needed is a real debate about what the NHS is for and what it isn't.....I still find it facinating the change or response from the last time I expressed that opinion.

[boxtops]

Thanks for the corroboration bednobs - and in the current financial climate, you can add any classified as "non-urgent" to those lists. Acute cases are still being treated but anything that can wait is having to be deferred.

[R1Geezer]

Sqad, of course we should have expert cosmetic surgeons trained and ready in the NHS, there are plenty of legit customers for them, glassings, dog bites, many assorted accidents, cleft palettes etc, all valid usage of cosmetc surgery. I just don't think they should pay for boob jobs and face lifts etc etc.

[Sqad]

R1 Geezer.....fair enough.

Remember surgeons make their money on "boobjobs" " nose jobs" ect and if training is not given for these procedures, then they will go to countries that will provide such training....U.S.A. Australia, France etc.

No foreign juniors, the no NHS.

[rov1200]

Personally I think the operations should be available but the recipient should then be billed and payable for the next 25 years. We are about to do this for students in education who at least will repay something back to society.

[naomi24]

Sqad, I don't think anyone is suggesting we stop training people to carry out cosmetic surgery. Personally I think people injured or scarred as the result of accidents, etc, should receive the appropriate treatment, but I don't believe the NHS should fund vanity surgery, gender swap operations - or IVF.

[woofgang]

wow....naomi, again we agree

[Sqad]

naomi...........how can one train junior doctors in "vanity" surgery, as you put it, if these operations are not performed on the NHS.

Unless of course, you are suggesting that these trainee surgeons are trained on Private patients.

I am not commenting on IVF or reconstructive surgery...........only cosmetic(vanity) surgery.

[woofgang]

that's actually a good idea sqad.

[Sqad]

woofgang....good idea for whom?

The Consultant is there for life.....the junior when trained (making his mistakes in the NHS) goes back to his country of origin).............not a good idea to make his mistakes on Private Patients which may jeopardise his earning power for all time.

[naomi24]

Sqad, plastic surgery isn't just carried out to satisfy vanity. What about people with serious burns, or with bodies smashed to pieces in accidents, or babies born with debilitating physical defects? They're treated by plastic surgeons under the NHS - and so they should be.

[marval]

No, the NHS money should be used for medical operations and emergency. Vanity and IVF are the people,s choice, illness and injury are not.

[Sqad]

naomi.


<<<<I am not commenting on IVF or reconstructive surgery...........only cosmetic(vanity) surgery.<<<<

We are singing from the same hymn sheet.........I agree.

[naomi24]

Sqad, okay. :o)

[Sqad]

marval....one of the functions of the NHS Consultants is to teach ALL aspects of surgery.

[woofgang]

the trainee shouldn't be making mistakes on ANYBODY

[Sqad]

woofgang.....which world are you living in?

ALL surgeons make mistakes...Consultants AND Juniors.

[Sqad]

woofgang

http://www.youclaim.c...%20UK%20hospitals.htm

[woofgang]

You imply that it's acceptable to make mistakes on nhs patients but not in private practice