The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) has set out new expectations for the clinical experience and competence required of pharmacists working in aesthetics.
According to the college, the review was undertaken in response to the act regulating non-surgical cosmetic procedures in Scotland, the UK Government consultation response to the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in Englandand an increasing number of enquiries regarding aesthetic practice. The guidance emphasises that, as demand for non-surgical aesthetics grows, procedure-specific training alone is insufficient for independent practice. Pharmacists must also demonstrate appropriate clinical experience, supervised practice and the competence required to provide safe and effective care, states the guidelines.
RCPharm says that practitioners are expected to maintain verified competencies in recognising and managing complications, including clinical emergencies such as vascular occlusion, with appropriate escalation pathways in place. Additionally, it states pharmacists should not provide non-surgical cosmetic procedures to individuals under-18s and should ensure treatments are delivered in appropriate clinical-standard premises, supported by robust record-keeping, verified product sourcing and comprehensive indemnity cover.
Ongoing learning and aesthetic competency assessments should also be documented within pharmacists’ annual General Pharmaceutical Council revalidation portfolios to demonstrate continued competence, shares RCPharm.
Tase Oputu, RCPharm president, commented, “Aesthetic practice is an evolving area and pharmacists working in this space need to be able to demonstrate that they have the right skills, experience and competence to provide safe, high-quality care. This updated statement reinforces the importance of putting safety at the heart of aesthetic practice. Pharmacists need to have the experience and professional judgement to put the individual first, recognise when a treatment may not be appropriate and make sure the individual is properly supported if things don’t go as planned.”