Consulting Room survey reveals industry views on self-regulation

A survey of doctor and nurse-led cosmetic clinics conducted by The Consulting Room has given an interesting insight into practitioners’ opinions on self-regulation as a solution for monitoring standards and improving patient safety within the aesthetic industry.

Out of those who responded 47% were CQC registered clinics and 53% did not carry out any registerable services in accordance with UK regulators. When asked if they thought voluntary, self-regulation schemes and registers were the answer to regulating the non-surgical cosmetic interventions sector, 67% said no, 11% said yes and 22% were unsure.

Many pointed to statutory legislation rather than voluntary regulation but others noted it was “a start” when the government had shown a clear disinterest in regulating aesthetic providers. When it comes to who should be running a self-regulatory scheme, 41% said a government regulator such as the CQC; 23% said a medical regulator such as the GMC or NMC; 18% said a professional trade body such as BCAM or BACN; 12% said an independent not-for- profit organisation and 6% said an independent commercial organisation. 47% thought it possible or likely that joining a self-regulatory accreditation scheme would make a difference to their practising standards, but the other 53% were confident that they practice to a high standard already.