The UK CSAG report (1998) described the complex relationship between the specialties of plastic and OMFS (oral and maxillofacial) surgery in the management of cleft patients. To resolve the matter, it was recommended that the respective professional bodies should review the cleft service and agree to delineate the areas of expertise so as to optimise the cleft service in the region and clarify training needs.
These recommendations are considered to be equally applicable to the cleft services in the [Eastern Health] Board’s region, as noted in the report Development of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Services in the Eastern Health Board Region, (Eastern Health Board, February 1999). A recommendation in the report stated that “the plastic and OMFS consultants in the [Eastern Health Board] region, together with their respective professional bodies, should agree to a methodology for integrating their combined expertise so as to provide a fully integrated quality cleft service for the region” (quote).