A recent BBC story revealed that a number of patients had been left with botched surgical procedures, and no way to cover the cost of amendment, due to a plastic surgeon not having adequate UK insurance. If you are considering surgery, what sort of insurance protection should you look for? Is the surgeon you have chosen likely to have appropriate cover?
Victoria Rose (MBBS FRCSplas LLM) Consultant Plastic Surgeon at DRG Plastic Surgery in Harley Street has provided the following tips in terms of insurance and plastic surgery:
1. The first thing that can help assess whether your plastic surgeon is likely to be properly insured is to check they are listed on the General Medical Council (GMC) register as a Plastic Surgery specialist.
2. It also helps to choose a surgeon who is working in, or who has worked in the NHS, as this ensures they undergo regular robust appraisals where their private practice is discussed.
3. Look for reputable private hospitals that offer all surgical specialities and avoid the smaller cosmetic clinics. They are less likely to have large HR teams that are capable of keeping on top of surgeons’ professional indemnity and appraisals.
4. Check your plastic surgeon has insurance which covers their work in the UK and check the figure they are indemnified for. Most plastic surgeons are indemnified for around the same amount – £10 million per claim, inclusive of claims expenses.
Victoria Rose (MBBS FRCSplas LLM) is one of the UK’s leading plastic surgeons with a specialism in breast reconstruction following cancer (including complex and microsurgical cases). Victoria works as Consultant Plastic Surgeon at DRG Plastic Surgery in Harley Street London: https://www.drg-plasticsurgery.co.uk with Consultant Plastic Surgeon David Gateley and within two of London’s NHS hospital trusts.