Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
Paragraph: 124
Establish a 'Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures' safety taskforce for coordinated regulation and patient safety.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Department establish a ‘Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures’ safety taskforce that comprises each of the regulatory bodies that have input into the sector, including the MHRA, the nine statutory bodies, the ASA and stakeholders like the JCCP, Save Face and other industry bodies. This taskforce’s remit should be centred on patient safety and should include, but not be limited to, examining the issues of remote prescribing, appropriateness of premises, education and training standards as well as accountability and governance. The existence of a taskforce should provide the opportunity for a more co-ordinated approach. The taskforce should also review the impact and operation of the future licensing regime when it is in place. We also heard evidence about the difficulties in enforcing existing regulations of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, as complaints relating to an aesthetic practice often span a number of different regulators. The new safety taskforce must ensure a coordinated approach to the enforcement of new and existing regulations in the industry, and the Government must ensure sufficient resources are available to the relevant bodies.
Government Response Summary
The government states it already has effective working relationships with various regulatory bodies and key industry stakeholders. They will continue to work with these groups to ensure consumer safety, thus implicitly declining the recommendation to establish a new safety taskforce.
Paragraph Reference:
124
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government is grateful to all the organisations and bodies involved in ensuring that the cosmetic industry is appropriately regulated, and for their ongoing positive engagement with this work. Officials in DHSC already have effective working relationships with regulatory bodies, including all professional healthcare regulators, CQC, ASA and MHRA. We also work closely with key stakeholders in the industry, including JCCP, Save Face, the British Beauty Council and other industry bodies. We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure consumers can make safe and informed choices about any cosmetic procedure they may choose to undergo.