HSE plastic surgery spend purely for clinical need

The Irish Examiner recently published an article stating that the HSE spent more than €2.5m on cosmetic procedures such as face lifts, nose jobs and eyelid/lip excisions since 2009.

The HSE wishes to make it clear that the figure of approximately €2.5m relates to the cost of procedures that are funded both by the HSE and also by individuals who pay for the procedures themselves through private health insurance or other means. Therefore the taxpayer is funding only a portion of that sum.

While the article inferred that these procedures were undertaken for cosmetic reasons, in order to “remove wrinkles” and “worry lines”, the HSE wants to assure the taxpayer that any money it spends on such procedures relates to “plastic” surgery.

This type of surgery is aimed at correcting disfigurement or restoring lost functioning as the result of accidents, birth defects or treatment of disease. “Plastic” surgery for clinical reasons must be differentiated from “cosmetic” surgery.

Patients receive “plastic” surgery following a clinical diagnosis by a medical consultant and it is not provided merely by request from a patient.

Examples of “plastic” surgery that are funded by the HSE include providing breast reconstructive surgery following cancer or tumour removal. Some patients receive reconstructive surgery following serious burns or accidents.

In some situations, breast reduction surgery may be required to deal with severe postural deformity. In certain cases, severe drooping of the brow may cause visual impairment which would require brow surgery.

The HSE is acutely aware of the importance of ensuring that every euro spent is done so wisely in order to allow it to continue to deliver services to the public during these difficult times. This is particularly so when budgets are continually in decline and demand for services continue to grow.

To date in 2014, inpatient, day-case and elective activity is up once again on last year. Increases in activity costs money. This is why I consider it important that I make it abundantly clear that the HSE is not “blowing” money on unnecessary “cosmetic” procedures.

Paul Connors is national director for communications of the HSE.