General description of the work Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
undertake
The Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon deals with the following types of surgery;
• burns and soft tissue injuries
• scar reconstruction
• skin grafting
• breast reconstruction
• microsurgery to the hand
• cleft palate surgery
• skin malignancy surgery
• aesthetic surgery such as facelift procedures and breast enhancement


Most common clinical areas / procedures leading to a claim of clinical negligence
• problems following breast surgery
• problems following hand surgery
• infection following cosmetic surgery
• problems following face lift procedures


Sub-Specialities / Alternative and Additional job titles
Some Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons may be known as Plastic Surgeons or Cosmetic Surgeons or Consultant Plastic and Hand Surgeon.


Usual Qualifications
The Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon will be known as Mr rather than Dr and will have FRCS (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons) after his name. He may additionally have FRCS(Plast) (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons) (Specialist Exam in Plastic Surgery) after his name.


Academic Appointments
The Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon may be a Lecturer or Professor in Surgery or Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at a Medical School. He/She may be an Examiner for one of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons.


Our Experts
The Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons who prepare reports on medical negligence cases on our behalf are all experienced NHS Consultants. They are in active clinical practice and they are experienced at preparing medico-legal reports. They are willing to attend Court in the UK and Ireland provided that they are given enough notice and their fees and expenses for attending are agreed in advance.
Each of the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons who prepare reports on our behalf has particular areas of clinical interest and we match each case with the most appropriate Consultant.


The Report
The Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons prepare their Reports for the benefit of the Courts. In other words, they prepare unbiased Reports in order to help the Court to decide the case, rather than to help one side or the other.
The Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons examine all the documentation and details of the case and look at the standard of care that the Client received. They then give their opinion on whether or not the standard of care that the Client received fell below the standard of care he/she should have received.
Where necessary they provide background documentation and information to back-up their opinion.


Documentation required
The most important documentation is the Client’s Hospital Records. This documentation will usually contain their Doctors’ Records, Operation Records, Nursing Records, Out-Patient Clinic Records and Correspondence.
There may be photographs and X-rays, CT or MRI scans. These may be of help to the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon when he is preparing his Report.
An account of events by the Client and/or the Client’s family will be of assistance to the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. Copies of the Client’s Attendances with their Solicitor will also help to clarify the areas of care that are at issue in the case.


Time-scale for the Report
Once we have confirmation to proceed with the Report the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons can usually prepare their Reports within 8 to 10 weeks. If a Report is needed urgently we will endeavour to have it prepared sooner than this.


Price of the Report
Once we receive all the documentation we will provide you with a quotation for the price of the Report from the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. If you decide to go ahead with the Report we will have it prepared and we will forward it to you on receipt of payment.
If you decide not to go ahead with the Report after receiving the quotation we will return all the documentation to you and there is no charge.


Queries on the Report / Addendums
The Reports from the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons are usually very clear and give a concise opinion on the standard of care the Client received.
If minor clarifications are needed then these will be provided at no extra cost.
If, after the Report has been completed, additional documentation needs to be examined by the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon or if additional work needs to be done in order to provide an Addendum to the Report, then there may be an additional charge. If so, we will inform you of this and only proceed with your approval.


Client Examination
The Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons do not normally need to see the Client in order to prepare a Report on the standard of care he/she has received. They can usually prepare their Report from the case notes and other documentation.
If the case does progress and a Report is needed on the Client’s current medical condition and/or prognosis for the future, then it is likely that the Client will need to see the Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon for an examination and we can make the necessary arrangements.