Launched today by Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Mark Butler MP, on behalf of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, the Cosmetic Surgery Standards are designed to provide stronger public safeguards and can be implemented across the sector immediately.
The safety and quality standards will be mandated for every service where cosmetic surgery is performed, including small day procedure clinics through to large health organisations.
Key Safety & Quality Issues within the Standards:
- Assessment of patient suitability
- Psychological assessment
- Advertising
- Informed consent
- Data reporting
- Complaints
- Clinician qualifications
- Post-operative care
- Continuity of care
- Sustainable health care
Specialist Plastic Surgeon and ASAPS President Dr Timothy Edwards, said “the new Cosmetic Surgery Standards will better protect Australians opting to have cosmetic surgery and ASAPS supports the initiative to improve patient safety within facilities where cosmetic surgery is performed”.
“The Cosmetic Surgery Standards will reiterate the ethos of ASAPS – patient safety, start to finish. By including aspects such as continuity of care and post-operative care in the standards, patients can be assured of safe, respectful and appropriate care throughout”.
“The reality is that these standards reflect the standards that ASAPS members have held themselves to, however as an organisation, we welcome clear national guidelines for our industry and look forward to consistency, for patients and practitioners, in terms of safety and quality”.
Specialist Plastic Surgeon and ASAPS Member Dr Garry Buckland, a Director of the Australasian Foundation for Plastic Surgery, said the standards provide a framework for “gold standard clinical practice in a field that has lacked direction for too long”.
“The Cosmetic Surgery Standards will benefit people choosing to have cosmetic surgery in an accredited facility, as they will be able to distinguish a good-quality practice from a poor-quality practice,” he said.
“The reputation of cosmetic surgery and the integrity of those who practice it has reached an all-time low. These standards, combined with reforms from Ahpra and the Medical Board of Australia, are necessary to restore patient and community confidence in cosmetic surgery and the medical practitioners who provide these services.
“Compliance to the Cosmetic Surgery Standards is a win-win for patients, practitioners and the broader community. Facilities that prioritise patient safety will be keen to implement these standards as soon as practicable, so we should see a positive impact on the industry very quickly.”
Dr Buckland added: “It is important that people who choose to have cosmetic surgery can trust that the services and medical practitioners they use are accountable, qualified and will provide safe care.”
“In a field that has lacked regulatory rigour, patients can be reassured by these standards that they will be able to receive the best possible care, in a safe environment, by trained medical professionals.”
About the Commission
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is an Australian Government agency that leads and coordinates national improvements in the safety and quality of health care based on the best available evidence. By working in partnership with patients, carers, clinicians, the Australian, state and territory health systems, the private sector, managers and healthcare organisations, the Commission aims to ensure that the health system is better informed, supported and organised to deliver safe and high-quality care. safetyandquality.gov.au
For more information on the Cosmetic Surgery Standards safetyandquality.gov.au/cosmetic-surgery
