{"id":2911,"date":"2014-06-26T10:18:46","date_gmt":"2014-06-26T10:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.medic8.com\/news\/?p=2911"},"modified":"2014-06-26T10:18:46","modified_gmt":"2014-06-26T10:18:46","slug":"the-nhs-and-cosmetic-surgery-9986","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medic8.com\/news\/the-nhs-and-cosmetic-surgery-9986\/","title":{"rendered":"The NHS and Cosmetic Surgery -9986"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NHS is currently under financial pressures, as are all public service institutions.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, there is something of a debate around the UK as to whether or not it is right to fund cosmetic surgery<\/a> on the NHS.<\/p>\n

This debate really started when a handful of patients who had undergone cosmetic surgery bragged recently about not having to pay for treatments such as rhinoplasty<\/a> and breast augmentation operations.<\/p>\n

Many cosmetic surgery patients feel that dislike of their physical appearance causes them psychological problems. This is why they feel as though the NHS should pay for the treatment.<\/p>\n

Members of the public, however, are questioning whether it is right to spend scarce financial resources in this way, particularly when cancer<\/a> treatment drugs are denied to patients because of cost.<\/p>\n

Cosmetic surgery is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world. People throughout history have always required treatment for injuries sustained in battle or from accidents.<\/p>\n

What is perhaps different in today\u2019s modern society is treatment is not just about healing but also about changing physical appearance in order to improve psychological well-being.<\/p>\n

The question now being asked though is whether the NHS can afford to pay for cosmetic surgery. Opinions are divided.<\/p>\n

One doctor from the Lake District, Geoff Jolliffe, believes that while he is not personally against funding cosmetic surgery on the NHS, given economic circumstances, it is a debate that needs to be considered.<\/p>\n

He also pointed out that psychological problems associated with a person\u2019s physical condition are very real and should not be dismissed in the way it often is. Having breast enlargement or reduction isn\u2019t just a matter of acquiescing to some selfish desire but helping someone in real distress, Dr. Joliffe told reporters.<\/p>\n

Moreover, while cosmetic surgery is in general not considered life threatening, for those at great risk of developing breast cancer, removal of the breast with follow-on reconstructive surgery is often necessary.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NHS is currently under financial pressures, as are all public service institutions. With this in mind, there is something of a debate around the UK as to whether or not it is right to fund cosmetic surgery on the NHS. This debate really started when a handful of patients who had undergone cosmetic surgery […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":888008809,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[24,1960,331,1842],"class_list":["post-2911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cosmetic-surgery","tag-cosmetic-surgery-2","tag-geoff-jolliffe","tag-nhs","tag-nhs-funding"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t