HM IHAS News

The Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) welcomes the recent publication from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) Professional Standards for Cosmetic Surgery. The standards clearly state that only registered doctors, dentists and nurses should be carrying out cosmetic injectable procedures and only appropriately qualified doctors carry out invasive cosmetic surgery. This position directly supports Treatments You Can Trust, the IHAS website to guide those thinking of having injectable cosmetic treatments. IHAS does not believe standards go far enough in defining the qualifications required to undertake cosmetic surgery and also believe that there are occasions and certain types of procedures when others apart from those three professions could use class 3B and Class 4 lasers in cosmetic practice. Therefore the standards come with a number of cautions and concerns about the content in relation to other areas of cosmetic interventions.

Guidance which outlines a set of key principles that employers should apply where the conduct or performance of a healthcare worker comes into question and a substantiated risk to patient or public safety has been identified has been produced by NHS Employers, the employers' organisation for the NHS in England and Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS).

In the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) State of Care Report 2011/12 widespread coverage was given to the NHS and Care Homes, but the good results in the independent acute sector went un-remarked. We point out here some key indicators for the independent acute sector, quoting from the CQC report.

Sally Taber examines the issues surrounding bariatric surgery and patient safety

The Department of Health’s Review of the Regulations of Cosmetic Interventions has called for evidence to assist it in its deliberations. There are two areas where IHAS is working on behalf of its members and will submit unique evidence.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) first quarterly report shows that 82% of all independent acute and mental health providers are meeting all the CQC’s essential standards.

The updated complaints process, the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS), which the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS) provides the administration and Secretariat to, is used by many healthcare service providers.

LETBs engagement with independents call

Patient safety is under threat unless providers adhere to Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS) policy positions on advertising cosmetic surgery and cosmetic treatments.

Medical revalidation, the process by which doctors throughout the UK who want to retain their licence to practise in the UK will need to demonstrate they are up to date and fit to practise is expected to roll-out late 2012. Doctors need to ensure that they find out who their Responsible Officer (RO), participate in annual appraisal and familiarise themselves with the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Good Medical Practice Framework and Supporting information guidance.