Caseload of NHS plastic surgeons in Scotland, 2005-2006: analysis of Scottish hospital activity data.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the contemporary caseload of NHS plastic surgeons.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Scotland.


METHODS
Analysis of routinely collected NHS hospital activity data relating to the financial year 2005-2006.


METHODS
Number of inpatient/day-case episodes and bed-days by principal diagnosis and main operative procedure.


RESULTS
During the study period, 12,844 inpatient and 9439 day-case episodes were recorded in 19,166 patients, accounting for 36,300 bed-days. There were more female patients, especially among middle-age groups. Socioeconomic deprivation was more common than expected (P < 0.0001), especially among younger age groups and male patients. In terms of episodes, the most common categories of diagnosis were neoplasms (28.4%) and injuries, including burns (22.4%). However, injuries accounted for a higher proportion of bed-days (37.3%) than neoplasms (23.8%). Only approximately half of all surgical procedures were assigned to the skin chapter of the OPCS-4 classification.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite some limitations, this study provides an insight into the current caseload of NHS plastic surgeons working in Scotland. The data suggest that cosmetic surgery for purely aesthetic reasons represents a relatively small part of NHS plastic surgery activity in Scotland, and that the majority of caseload is in reconstructive plastic surgery.
Brewster
Colin T
CT
colin.brewster@hotmail.co.uk
Shoaib
Taimur
T
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012606:Scotland; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult