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.

[DESIGN] Descriptive study.

[SETTING] Scotland.

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

[MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES] 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.