Patients treated by cosmetic surgeons who have been struck off the medical register are failing to get compensation because the surgeon does not have insurance, it was reported.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is failing to check that cosmetic surgeons are covered, and patients whose operations have gone wrong are not liable for compensation, reports said.

NHS hospital doctors and GPs are covered. But GPs with private medical practices and private hospitals are not legally obliged to get insurance and are not legally obliged to inform the GMC of any policy agreements, the report said.

According to reports the government intends to make insurance compulsory in the private sector and the GMC will be responsible for checking up on the private practices.

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