How do I check on a surgeon credentials (UK)?

Question

I need to go under the knife to remove a nodule on my neck in order to find out if I have thyroid cancer. As with any surgery there are risks involved and I want to make sure that I have a surgeon with the correct credentials and with no malpractice against him/her. I live in the UK ( Edinburgh). Please help me find the right places to look him/her up.

Answer 1

Fellow Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) Scotland - What does ...Definition of Fellow Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) Scotland in the list ... Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions ...

acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Fellow+... - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

Above is the link I found when I Googled for you..... you should be able to get some answers from them.... give them all the details you have on the surgeon and just ask - they should be able to give you his full credentials and should also be able to say yes or not to any valid limitation on his licence....

Answer 2

You can look on the GMC site to check credentials, however past medico-legal activity is not readily available in the public domain.

http://www.gmc-uk.org/

Answer 3

Hello,

(ANS) I can tell you that ALL working (practicing) surgeons here in the UK are members of their respective professional bodies. They MUST be members of their respective organizations. Such as The Royal College of Orthopedic surgeons, or Royal College General Practice for GP's etc.

**Each branch or type of surgery will have its own specialist college & professional body. Such as those for Plastic or cosmetic surgery, or faxcilo-facial surgery, general surgeons. And each professional organization should hold a register for each member i.e. surgeon. And so you should be able to look up that persons professional qualifications as well as how many years experience they have.

**NOTE:- You would be fully within your rights to ask the surgeon in question what his or her qualifications are & how long they have been working,etc. There is no! shame in asking this and any surgeon worth their salt will be more than happy to answer such questions. They should well understand that potential patients want to know this if for nothing more than re-assurance.

**Contact either the GMC ( general medical council) or the Royal College of Surgeons they will be able to help you directly or point you in the right direction.

**Some of this kind of information about surgeons should be available on line or via the hospital that is going to treat you. Again DON'T be frightened to ask about qualifications & experience.

Hope that's useful?

Ivan