DHSC responds to Impact of Body Image on Mental and Physical Health report

The Health and Social Care Committee’s report, the impact of body image on mental and physical health published in August 2022, called for Ministers to speed up the introduction of a licensing regime after hearing evidence of the dangers posed by non-surgical cosmetic procedures to vulnerable groups.

Although the delayed Government's response, published on February 2 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), said the scale of the work required meant it would not be able to meet the recommended timeframe, it showed a commitment to developing a new license for non-surgical practice in England, as well as setting new mandatory standards for aesthetic practice, education and training as part of a new licensing scheme in England by July 2023. 

Ministers rejected recommendations to make dermal fillers available as prescription-only substances, in line with Botox®, and to ensure specific premises standards for all premises that provide non-surgical cosmetic procedures, after hearing about such procedures regularly being carried out in places which some characterised as ‘filthy’.

“It is extremely disappointing that the Government has failed to recognise the urgent need for greater protection for vulnerable groups seeking non-surgical cosmetic procedures," said Health and Social Care Committee chair Steve Brine MP. "The delay leaves people at risk of exploitation and we urge the Government to deliver the regulation that is necessary now."

“The Government's approach in putting the onus on an individual to find a ‘reputable’ provider of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in place of regulation and legislation that would protect the consumer is badly thought through.

However, the Government demonstrated its commitment to developing a new license for non-surgical practice in England and will set new mandatory standards for aesthetic practice, education and training as part of a new licensing scheme in England by July 2023.

A statement from the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) said the organisation will work with the Government to inform the design and implementation of the promised licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people.

“We are delighted that many of the key issues raised in our representation to the Select Committee have been supported by the DHSC," said JCCP chair Prof David Sines CBE. "The Government has advised that ‘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’. 

"The JCCP welcomes this offer and will commit to working closely with the Government and other relevant regulatory bodies during the forthcoming months to realise the key objective of embedding patient safety and public protection for members of the public who elect to engage with non-surgical procedures within the context of a robust, effective and ‘fit for purpose’ licensing scheme in England’."

The JCCP believes, however, that other additional measures are required to supplement the proposed licensing system:

• The need for extended powers to be given to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to inspect all premises where invasive procedures that are included in the license are to be performed and to seek an assurance that the CQC will develop a memorandum of understanding with local authority licensing organisations to perform an integrated and enhanced scheme of regulation for aesthetics. 

• The implementation of a national register of approved qualifications and approved education and training providers and assurances that Ofqual will only approve qualifications in the future that meet the new Government standard for education and training for the aesthetics sector.

• Greater controls on the manufacture, supply and administration of Dermal Fillers.

• The Minister is requested to write to all Professional Regulatory Bodies who have responsibility for prescribing to seek assurance that they will enforce guidance to ensure that remote prescribing is not performed in the aesthetics sector.

• The design and implementation of a Government enforced system of annual data collection on types of aesthetic treatments, numbers of practitioners, premises, training courses and complications to inform the evidence base of a robust system of public protection in the UK. 

• The legal enforcement of the requirement for all practitioners to have an appropriate level of medical indemnity insurance and to provide a transparent redress scheme for service users.

• National scrutiny and action to prevent the promotion through social media of unsafe, unethical and exaggerated messaging about products, education, training and aesthetic service provision.

The Government response also rejected several recommendations from MPs aimed at tackling obesity, including a call for a dedicated eating disorder strategy and annual holistic health and wellbeing assessments for every child and young person. Further, the Government could not commit to the introduction of restrictions on multibuy deals for foods and drinks high in fat, salt or sugar, including buy-one-get-one-free. Instead, the Government Response pointed to existing measures.

“Eating disorders among young people are increasing and if not dealt with early can become extremely serious even leading to lengthy acute admissions. We wanted a dedicated eating disorder strategy to tackle it for good reason, based on solid evidence.

“Rolling it into other areas of Government work represents a missed opportunity to give it the priority it needs. Issues like this are too important to ignore and the Government’s response here runs contrary to the Secretary of State’s stated determination to get serious about prevention. Our major new inquiry into the prevention of ill health will give the Committee the opportunity to return to subjects like eating disorders and Ministers can be sure we shall do that.”