In the UK, is it possible to review/determine a surgeon's
ability/performance in any way?  If so, how?

Dear bob753-ga,
Thank you for accepting my research as an answer. 

The GMC will give the following information:
Full name 
Registration Number 
Dates of registration (provisional, full, specialist or limited) 
Current registered address 
Sex 
Current registration status 
Primary Medical Qualification 
Specialist Qualifications 
http://www.gmc-uk.org/register/default.htm


According to the Royal College of Surgeons of England
"Performance tables have been produced for cardiothoracic (heart)
surgery and details can be found on the Society of Cardiothoracic
Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland website. No performance tables
have yet been published for other types of surgery."
You may find the remaining information on this page of help.
http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about_the_college/information_for_patients/faq/surgeons_html#qualifications

Also, the general page of "Information for Patients" has many links to
useful information.
http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about_the_college/information_for_patients/

The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain can be found at
http://www.scts.org/

In Scotland, there is the The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
The site is not so useful, but you can search for members of the Society at
http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/webapps/fellowsdb/

I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder

Google Answers researcher

Search strategy
Already knew of the relevant GMC and RCS sites.

A very honest and informative reply

Dear bob753-ga,
I suspect your are seeking more than this, but I do not think you will
find it; this is why I am posting it as comment.
The GMC will give the following information:
Full name 
Registration Number 
Dates of registration (provisional, full, specialist or limited) 
Current registered address 
Sex 
Current registration status 
Primary Medical Qualification 
Specialist Qualifications 
http://www.gmc-uk.org/register/default.htm


According to the Royal College of Surgeons of England
"Performance tables have been produced for cardiothoracic (heart)
surgery and details can be found on the Society of Cardiothoracic
Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland website. No performance tables
have yet been published for other types of surgery."
You may find the remaining information on this page of help.
http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about_the_college/information_for_patients/faq/surgeons_html#qualifications

Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain 
http://www.scts.org/

answerfinder-ga
Google Answers researcher

Thank you, I will accept that as an answer as it covers all the
information available.  Many thanks.