RCS response to reappointment of Jeremy Hunt MP
12 May 2015
Commenting on the re-appointment of Jeremy Hunt MP as the Secretary of State for Health, RCS President Clare Marx said:
‘Jeremy Hunt’s re-appointment will offer a period of political continuity for the NHS.
The Government has already promised to put greater transparency and seven-day services at the heart of their plans for reforming patient care. We look forward to working with the Department of Health and NHS England to support these initiatives, alongside much needed improvements to emergency surgery. The College is working to understand variability in the outcomes from emergency general surgery and we very much hope the new Government will back this work as part of their continuing support of NHS England’s wider review of emergency care.
Ahead of the Queen’s Speech later this month, we urge the Government to tighten the regulation of cosmetic surgery. At present, any doctor can practise cosmetic surgery even if they are not a surgeon. Following the PIP breast implant failures, the College is introducing a system of certification which aims to ensure only those surgeons with the appropriate skills and experience undertake cosmetic surgery. This needs to be backed up with new regulatory powers to help the General Medical Council enforce this credential. This is urgently required to protect people undergoing cosmetic treatment.’
Notes to editors
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling surgeons to achieve and maintain the highest standards of surgical practice and patient care. Registered charity number: 212808.
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