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Scotland to Begin Regulating Private Clinics from 2016
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) will begin to regulate clinics offering procedures such as botulinum toxin injections, dermal fillers and teeth whitening from next year, following recommendations by the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Group.
In a first for UK independent clinics, HIS will introduce the new regulations for clinics situated in Scotland from April 2016.
The introduction of the new regulations is further evidence of the steps the government are taking to improve the standards within the cosmetic industry after the publication of Sir Bruce Keogh’s review in 2013.
Further recommendations by the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Group included all professionals being kept up-to-date with the latest training, ensuring clinics hold sufficient insurance and that each clinic has a transparent complaint system in place.
The implementation of the new regulations are planned to be in a three-phase process. The first phase will begin with independent clinics, followed by higher risk procedures such as dermal fillers with the final phase then seeking to develop a system to regulate other groups of practitioners.
The proposals have received the backing of various healthcare organisations including the General Medical Council (GMC), General Dental Council (GDC) and British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN).
Sharon Bennett, Chair of the BACN, said “The BACN fully supports the actions of the Scottish Government and the expert group with regard to developing frameworks and standards in relation to the delivery of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
“We believe that patient safety should be at the centre of any proposals agreed and that patients are assured at all times of the best medical care that is available from medical professionals who are accountable to their own Governing Councils.”
The proposals follow a recent report by the Scottish Government, which found that almost one in five Scots have considered having a cosmetic procedure – with 4% having had one.
The report also found that one in 10 Scots believes that the non-surgical cosmetic procedures industry is already being regulated.
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