RCN Urges Government To Reconsider Cosmetic Laser Industry Deregulation, UK

Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Article Date: 11 Jul 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Royal College of Nursing has called on the Government to reconsider their plan to remove non-surgical laser treatments from healthcare regulation. The College has said that if the plans go ahead, the Government will fail to protect the health and well-being of patients.

Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:

"Our members support the regulation of cosmetic laser treatments and wish to protect patients. The RCN is concerned that this decision could potentially enable individuals without qualifications to perform laser and other treatments on patients, which would pose a serious health risk to patients and damage confidence in the industry."

Marie Duckett, Chair of RCN Forum for Nurses in Aesthetic Medicine described the deregulation of cosmetic laser clinics as a 'backward step" and added:

"Cosmetic laser treatments are extremely effective in expert clinical hands, but equally can prove to be dangerous in the hands of someone inexperienced or who has not been properly trained or without a clinical qualification. The proposed plan sends the wrong message to the public and the practitioners. It is unfortunate that this should happen at a time when we are trying to improve standards in the industry."

The RCN made their comments alongside Which? and 30 patient groups, medical bodies, cosmetic clinics and industry representatives.

Royal College of Nursing