Updated: Industry bodies issue updated guidance on medical aesthetic clinics re-opening
Save Face, the BACN and the JCCP have issued statements outlining their positions and guidance over aesthetic clinics reopening amidst continued confusion.
Aesthetic practices were left confused over whether or not they were able to open following the Prime Minister’s address on June 23.
Clinics were expecting to start operating again on July 4 as part of a further easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK, however, the announcement made it unclear. While PM Boris Johnson said that beauty salons and spas would be prohibited from opening he did not make specific reference to aesthetic clinics. However, in a document later published by Public Health England on July 3, the Government modified its definition of beauty salon to include “any premises providing beauty services including cosmetic, aesthetic and wellness treatments” further adding to the uncertainty.
Last night (Monday July 6), the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses and Save Face released statements saying the Department of Health (DoH) had clarified to them that its new COVID-19 regulations did not apply to medical aesthetics performed by regulated clinicians following a medical model.
In a statement on its website, Save Face said, “We have never considered the treatments carried out by our members as ‘beauty therapy’ services. If you choose to open you must ensure you have taken and can evidence all the precautions we have recommended and further, that you can evidence a clear medical model in your practice; this would include patient selection, assessment, consultation, consent, with all being documented in the medical record. This medical model should also be reflected in any marketing or social media communications.”
The BACN then updated its statement on social media earlier today (Tuesday July 7) following a new announcement made by the JJCP. In this the JCCP said it had received confirmation from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) at 6pm on Monday night (July 6) that endorsed its currently published guidance and “definitive advice for returning to practice for registered healthcare practitioners.”
The JCCP's stance is that you can practise if you:
•Are acting in your capacity as a regulated healthcare professional
•Place patient safety and public protection as your primary concern
•Perform an individual patient assessment and associated risk assessment which leads to a clinical determination (arrived at through the application of the Practitioner’s clinical judgement) that confirms that the rationale for the provision of the procedure is medically related
•Undertake the treatment from clinical rather than beauty premises
•Undertake the procedure in accordance with published JCCP guidance and ensure that appropriate patient safety precautions are in place
•Ensure that you are insured for the procedure that you intend to perform
In these circumstances the JCCP would not consider these services to be elective or aesthetic ‘beauty related services’ and would support its members in their decision to open. This decision also accords with the advice received from professional statutory regulators.
In its statement on social media, the BACN said, “If you choose to open you must ensure you have taken and can evidence all the precautions we have recommended and further, that you can evidence a clear medical model in your practice; this would include patient selection, assessment, consultation, consent, with all being documented in the medical record. This medical model should also be reflected in any marketing or social media communications. We strongly advise all members to carefully consider all of this information before opening.”
The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) released a statement via email to its members. It told Aesthetic Medicine: "Throughout the COVID-19 emergency the British College of Aesthetic Medicine has sought to provide fact-based leadership to its members and the sector. For this reason any information, advice and guidance issued by the College has been underpinned by legal opinion at the highest level. Members have been able to have full confidence in the diligence of their professional association, rather than in interpretations of complicated legislation.
While some clinics are now choosing to open others are remaining closed and awaiting further clarification from the Government directly.
Read more about the confusion and mixed views in the industry over PM's Monday address.
