By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 09th June 2010
The recent surge in non-surgical treatments has seen a rise in ‘rogue' practitioners with treatments being offered in totally inappropriate venues, from nail bars to Botox parties. But from this month, if you are planning on having Botox or any other injectable facial treatment, it is now possible to check the credibility of your clinic or practitioner before going ahead
The Government has backed an industry-led scheme to introduce self-regulation to what is actually a very unregulated industry. The IHAS Register of Injectable Cosmetic Providers screens practitioners and clinics, awards a Quality Assurance Mark to approved premises and lists them on its website, www.treatmentsyoucantrust.co.uk, which is open to the public to check.
However, while the initiative has won support from the majority of practitioners and manufacturers, some feel that a voluntary scheme that isn't enforced by the weight of the law will have little power to change the aesthetics industry for the better.
We get the viewpoints of industry leaders...
Mr Nigel Mercer, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and President of BAAPS
"The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) welcomes this initiative to bring some voluntary regulation to the ‘Wild West' that exists in cosmetic medicine on the high street - but the message from our organisation continues to be that a statutory ‘OffCos' is needed in British cosmetic surgery and medicine with power to enforce regulations and safety.
There is a British Potato Council, so why is there no statutory regulator for the cosmetic industry, one in which serious harm can be done to patients by the poorly trained and the unscrupulous?
It is apparent that Europe will be introducing standards in the next few years and so official regulation may eventually be imposed on the aesthetics industry in the UK."
Dr Simon Connolly, Committee Member of BACD
"Cosmetic medicine has never had any effective regulation in the UK unlike Europe and in the last ten years there has been a virtual stampede of providers offering these treatments. The Government has consistently avoided regulation and has allowed the growth of poor practice and inappropriate practitioners to grow unchecked.
The scheme will provide a basic indication of suitability and the BACD broadly supports it but continues to advise all patients that it is essential to choose an experienced and properly qualified doctor.
The launch is happening at the same time as the BACD is launching the first postgraduate diploma in Cosmetic Medicine. As this will be available only to doctors the BACD is looking forward to setting the gold standard for physicians practising within this new speciality."
Sally Taber, Director of the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS)
"The IHAS Register aims to encourage higher standards, by registering only doctors, dentists and registered nurses who meet the IHAS standards and training principles. It's unrealistic to think that patients will be aware of all standards that a provider should meet - so we have distilled the standards into a simple, easily recognisable symbol - the IHAS Quality Assurance Mark.
The online Register acts like a directory. Patients will be directed to only qualified and registered providers who have been awarded the kitemark. Our ultimate goal is for patients to only choose providers who are on the Register.
It's crucial for patient safety that www.treatmentsyoucantrust.co.uk is consulted - to ensure they are choosing providers who offer injectable cosmetic treatments in appropriate and safe surroundings."
Liz Bardolph, Registered Nurse and founder member of the BACN
"Following the Expert Report (2005), the aesthetic nurses were the first in the industry to develop standards. Two years later we contributed to the first postgraduate Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine for nurses, doctors and dentists.
We applaud the IHAS for all its hard work in this challenging area and welcome a scheme which aims to root out poor practice in a fast growing and not altogether risk-averse specialty.
However, although the IHAS scheme is supported by the Government, we feel that it was a missed opportunity by the Government not to implement a mandatory accredited regulatory scheme with sanctions.
At the same time, the BACN hopes that the quality mark will be a meaningful tool for members of the public who are navigating their way to a safe practitioner."
