After many awaited years, the UK government has announced the first steps they’ll take to help regulate the aesthetics industry and clamp down on ‘botched’ clinics. The amendments to the Health and Care Bill will see a mandated licensing law implemented for more invasive cosmetic treatments and it will be made an offence for someone to practice without a licence.

What are the changes proposed by parliament?

In an industry estimated to be worth £3.6 billion[1], the introduction of legislation to regulate safe and effective practice is long overdue. The proposed changes would see a national system of licensing for more invasive treatments such as injectables, fillers, deep skin peels and laser treatments. Practitioners who cannot meet the required standards for safe and effective practice will not be able to practise legally.

Currently, there is no standard for education and training meaning anyone, including hairdressers and beauticians can perform them. Typically, therapists will administer non-surgical aesthetic treatments after as little as two months training providing that they pass the Level 3 NVQ course assessment – which is the equivalent of two standard A-Level examinations.

As the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) prepare for the next stage in lobbying Parliament to introduce a mandated licensing regime for invasive cosmetic treatments, the UK’s largest clinic group, sk:n publicly welcome the proposed changes and give the JCCP their full backing.

What policies do we currently have in place at sk:n?

Ahead of the proposed legislation changes, sk:n has already implemented strict medical standards to ensure that only the safest and highest quality of treatments are delivered in appropriate, clinical environments by highly trained and experienced practitioners. The leading clinic group employs over 300 nurses and practitioners, with many of the nurses already meeting the new proposed minimum qualification standard of Level 7 – the educational equivalent to a master’s degree.

To further support the proposed amendment to the Health and Social Care Act, sk:n will aim to further develop all their nurses to Level 7 by the end of 2023 to be fully compliant as much as three years before it becomes a legal requirement.

Here’s What Our Experts Had To Say

Darren Grassby, CEO for sk:n

“At sk:n, ensuring our clients receive the highest standard of care, safety, and treatment is our number one priority. We are passionate about safeguarding members of the public and want to make a public stance to support the JCCP. As the largest clinic group in the UK and over 25 years’ experience of treating millions of patients, we urge all Parliamentarians to support the introduction of a mandated licensing regime and give the JCCP our full backing. We are implementing the proposed standards in our clinics ahead of the changes and would encourage our peers in the industry to do the same. Patient safety must come first and foremost.”

Professor David Sines, chairman of the JCCP

“The JCCP has established a very positive relationship with sk:n over many years. The support from a leading player in the industry is invaluable for improving safety standards and we are very grateful to have the weight of their backing behind us.

We have concluded that in the interests of patient safety and public protection, high-risk and potentially harmful and invasive procedures, such as the injection of toxins, deep penetrative lasers, and the administration of dermal fillers should only be administered by appropriately trained healthcare professionals, and it is our mission to ensure this become a legal requirement by 2025.”

[1] British Dental Nurses Journal, Face the Demand February 2020

Click here to read more about sk:n’s partnership with JCCP, helping to champion patient safety within the industry.

 

Key Learnings

• sk:n backs JCCP in call for legislation to regulate the non-surgical aesthetic sector
• Currently Beauty Therapists qualified at Level 3 NVQ – the equivalent of two standard A-levels can perform injectable treatments in the UK
• The amendments to the Health and Care Bill would see the introduction of a mandated licensing regime for more invasive cosmetic treatments and make it an offence for someone to practice without a licence