Advisory CS25/02: Advice on not applicable actions for the Cosmetic Surgery Standards

Advisory details

Purpose

To clarify not applicable actions for all Services where cosmetic surgery is performed.
 

Issue

In some exceptional circumstances, actions from the National Safety and Quality Cosmetic Surgery Standards (Cosmetic Surgery Standards) may not be applicable to a Service. The Commission has issued this advisory to ensure the consistent application of not applicable status to actions within the Cosmetic Surgery Standards.
 

Requirements

The attached summary tables detail the actions which may be awarded a not applicable rating, subject to supporting evidence being provided by the Service.

Where a Service considers that an action is not applicable, evidence must be supplied to demonstrate that the action is associated with little or no risk of patient harm in their service context. Applications should be submitted to the approved accrediting agency well in advance of the assessment. Accrediting agencies are to provide an initial determination of the Service’s submission before undertaking the scheduled assessment. At assessment, assessors are to verify that the decision to award these actions not applicable status is justified.

Accrediting agencies are required to refer to the summary tables below when considering applications from Services for not applicable actions within the Cosmetic Surgery Standards.

In large organisations, there may be specific units or departments where an action does not apply, while remaining applicable elsewhere in the organisation. In these cases, the action will apply for the Service but is not required to be assessed for units where it is demonstrated as not applicable.

Infrequent application of an action is not sufficient reason for awarding not applicable status. Where an action is infrequently applied, strategies to implement the action are likely to be a simple monitoring and review process by the Service.

Where there is a dispute concerning an award of not applicable status that is not resolved following discussions between the Service and the accrediting agency, application can be made by either the accrediting agency or Service to the Commission for mediation.
 

Attachment: Summary tables of not applicable actions