Industry associations urge medical professionals to make their voices heard by submitting contributions to the government consultation on a potential licensing scheme in aesthetics by the closing date this Saturday 28 October.
The new regulatory scheme could include new licensing laws for any practitioner and premises offering a number of non-surgical aesthetic treatments in England. The specifics of these changes will be influenced by the responses to the consultation.
Dr Martyn King, chair of Aesthetic Complications Expert (ACE) Group World and vice chair of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), commented, “It is essential that you complete your responses to ensure your voice is heard and that we can protect the public and try to ensure that non-surgical cosmetic treatments are performed by highly trained medical professionals, in appropriate premises, after medical assessment and when all concerns are addressed. Medical practitioners performing non-surgical cosmetic treatments are in the minority, so it is even more important that EVERY member of the medical aesthetics community responds.”
Chair of the British College of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) Sharon Bennett has emphasised the BACN’s focus on safeguarding the public, saying, “The importance of responding to this government consultation cannot be underestimated, and it is critically important that each and every regulated medical aesthetic practitioner responds and delivers a united voice. Medical aesthetic practice must be led by regulated, qualified medical professionals to protect patients undergoing any procedure.”
Dr Catherine Fairris, president of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM), also encourages all its members to complete the consultation. She shares, “BCAM has significant concerns about the proposals as they currently stand, and will continue to lobby for more stringent regulation against non-medical practitioners being afforded the right to perform what are, in some cases, medical procedures.”
Various associations across the industry have compiled documents with guidance on filling out the consultation form. Click here for the ACE Group guidance, the JCCP response and the BACN guidance, and contact BCAM directly for access to their guide.
Aesthetics has also collaborated with a number of key industry figures through explanatory Instagram Lives. Visit @aestheticsjournaluk to see our Lives with Sharon Bennett & Dr Fairris, Dr King & Sharon King, chair of the JCCP Professor David Sines, Dr Manav Bawa & Yogeeta Bawa and Dr Steven Land & Dr Lisa Dinley for more insights.
Click here to contribute to the consultation by 11:59pm on 28 October.
