Asked by: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement a credential for the regulation of cosmetic surgery; and what progress they have made with regard to implementing any such plans.
Answered by Lord Kamall - Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
The General Medical Council and the Royal College of Surgeons are developing a cosmetic surgery credential. The credential will set out the expectations of doctors working in this area of practice and strengthen regulation and patient protection by ensuring surgeons have appropriate training, qualifications and experience.
The cosmetic surgery credential will not be mandatory. However, we expect the cosmetic surgery industry to embrace the credential as a way of demonstrating that doctors have the relevant skills and knowledge to deliver safe care to patients. We anticipate the cosmetic surgery credential will be completed in 2023.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend the powers of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body to include the investigation of (a) cosmetic and (b) aesthetic malpractice.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
We do not plan to extend the powers of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body. The provisions in the Health and Care Bill mean that the Health Services Safety Investigations Body will have the power to investigate incidents which have or may have implications for patient safety. Its remit will cover healthcare provided in the National Health Service and healthcare provided in and by the independent sector.
In England cosmetic surgery may only be performed by doctors registered with the General Medical Council. Providers of surgery must also register with the Care Quality Commission and meet its fundamental standards of safety and quality. The Government is evaluating the existing education and qualification frameworks for practitioners of non-surgical cosmetic procedures operating in England and assessing options for improving standards. This includes consideration of whether increased oversight of practitioners performing the most invasive non-surgical procedures is needed and how to achieve a proportionate system of practitioner regulation that protects the public.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the safety of cosmetic procedures being undertaken by non-licenced healthcare professionals.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
In England cosmetic surgery may only be performed by doctors registered with the General Medical Council. Providers of surgery must also register with the Care Quality Commission and meet its fundamental standards of safety and quality.
The Government is evaluating the existing education and qualification frameworks for practitioners of non-surgical cosmetic procedures operating in England and assessing options for improving standards. This includes consideration of whether increased oversight of practitioners performing some of the most invasive non-surgical procedures is needed and how to achieve a proportionate system of practitioner regulation that protects the public.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate surgical care practitioners.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Following the 2017 consultation on the regulation of medical associate professions there are no plans to introduce statutory regulation of surgical care practitioners at this time.
Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to regulate providers in the aesthetic industry.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
Cosmetic surgery may only be performed by doctors registered with the General Medical Council and providers are required to register with the Care Quality Commission. The Department is working with stakeholders to assess the need for strengthened safeguards around the regulation of providers who offer some of the more invasive non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to introduce legislation to implement a mandatory licensing scheme for people wishing to practise aesthetic procedures in England.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Local Government Miscellaneous Act 1982 gives local authorities powers to regulate the hygiene and cleanliness of the practice of businesses providing a specific range of body modification procedures, including electrolysis, semi-permanent skin-colouring and body piercing. Local authorities also have general enforcement powers under health and safety at work legislation if they judge that there is a risk to customers’ health and safety.
The Department is exploring the regulation of premises, practitioners, products and consumer safeguards for cosmetic procedures. This includes an assessment of the regulation of practitioners and businesses offering the most invasive procedures, additional safeguards for children, and effective enforcement mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce extended powers for local authorities and their associated enforcement agencies to regulate the aesthetics sector.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Local Government Miscellaneous Act 1982 gives local authorities powers to regulate the hygiene and cleanliness of the practice of businesses providing a specific range of body modification procedures, including electrolysis, semi-permanent skin-colouring and body piercing. Local authorities also have general enforcement powers under health and safety at work legislation if they judge that there is a risk to customers’ health and safety.
The Department is exploring the regulation of premises, practitioners, products and consumer safeguards for cosmetic procedures. This includes an assessment of the regulation of practitioners and businesses offering the most invasive procedures, additional safeguards for children, and effective enforcement mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to extend powers to local authorities to regulate mobile or home-based practitioners who practise in the aesthetic sector.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Local Government Miscellaneous Act 1982 gives local authorities powers to regulate the hygiene and cleanliness of the practice of businesses providing a specific range of body modification procedures, including electrolysis, semi-permanent skin-colouring and body piercing. Local authorities also have general enforcement powers under health and safety at work legislation if they judge that there is a risk to customers’ health and safety.
The Department is exploring the regulation of premises, practitioners, products and consumer safeguards for cosmetic procedures. This includes an assessment of the regulation of practitioners and businesses offering the most invasive procedures, additional safeguards for children, and effective enforcement mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to implement statutory regulation of the aesthetics sector.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Government is committed to improving the safety of cosmetic procedures through better training for practitioners, and clear information so that people can make informed decisions about their care.
The Department is exploring the regulation of premises, practitioners, products and consumer safeguards. This includes an assessment of the regulation of practitioners in the aesthetics sector and working with stakeholders to ensure that practitioners are able to identify providers of accredited training.
The Government expects providers of cosmetic procedures to operate responsibly by conducting a pre-treatment consultation and ensuring they hold the requisite.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2020 to Question 8164 on Plastic Surgery, which regulator oversees the administering of (a) botox and (b) other subcutaneous injections of muscle relaxing substances used to improve appearance.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
Botulinum toxins are Prescription-Only Medicines. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the United Kingdom.
A prescriber, who must be a registered healthcare professional or medical practitioner, may delegate the administration of the medicine to a secondary practitioner. The person administering the injection is not required to be a healthcare professional, but the prescriber retains responsibility for ensuring the treatment is provided safely.
Where the treatment is administered by a registered healthcare professional or medical practitioner (e.g. nurse, doctor) they are required to follow the standards set by their regulatory body. Failure to do so can result in an investigation into their fitness to practise and sanctions issued to protect patient safety.