Plastic Surgery
(asked on 27th October 2014) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to ensure more effective regulation of providers of cosmetic laser treatments; and whether it is his policy to introdude a register of such providers.
On 24 April 2013, the independent Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions, chaired by Sir Bruce Keogh, was published. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
The Government Response to the Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions, was published on 13 February. A copy of the response has already been placed in the Library. We fully accept the principles of the Keogh review and the overwhelming majority of the recommendations.
The Government has undertaken to strengthen standards through better training and robust qualifications, and explore how far supervision from regulated professionals might support self-regulation of the sector.
The Royal College of Surgeons has set up an inter-specialty committee to ensure standards for cosmetic surgery and will work with the General Medical Council on a code of ethical conduct. Health Education England (HEE) is leading on a review of training and qualifications for providers of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, including lasers. On 11 September, HEE published a phase 1 report Review of qualifications required for delivery of non-surgical cosmetic interventions. A copy of the report is attached.
The Care Quality Commission has developed a new inspection methodology to cover independent health providers, reflecting the protocols used for National Health Service hospitals. The inspections will be conducted with relevant specialists within the inspection teams, including those with experience in cosmetic interventions.
The Department is also taking steps to meet relevant stakeholders to discuss cosmetic procedures and the necessity and form of any further regulation to protect the public. There are no current plans to introduce a statutory register of providers of cosmetic laser treatments.