Government Sees The Light On Cosmetic Laser Deregulation, UK

Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Article Date: 11 Sep 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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With news that the Government will not deregulate Class 3B and 4 Lasers and Intense Pulse Light Sources (IPL) on 1 October 2008 as planned*, Jenny Driscoll, Health Campaigner, Which? says:

"We're delighted the Government has listened to consumers and industry, deciding not to deregulate cosmetic laser treatments in October**. Thousands more people would have been needlessly harmed or scarred if the proposals had gone ahead***, and it is encouraging to see that the consultation process has been effective.

"Now the Government must take the time to have a serious, in-depth look at this rapidly expanding industry. Current and future regulations must not only be effective and robust, but policed efficiently in clinics across the country, making sure consumers are protected. Laser treatments should change lives for the better, not the worse."

* Private and Voluntary Healthcare, Care Standards Act 2000, Regulations and National Minimum Standards, Consultation Document

** The Government published its consultation paper on Private and Voluntary Health Care: Care Standards Act 2000' in March 2008 which included partial deregulation of lasers and intense pulsed light sources - Class 3B or Class 4 laser products and intense pulsed light (IPL).

***The Government stated that cosmetic laser deregulation could cost the NHS an extra £1.8 million a year as well as doubling the rate of 'adverse incidents' such as people getting burns. (Source: Department of Health (March 2008) Private and Voluntary Healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000, [Appendix A: Deregulation of lasers and lights - possible effect on number of adverse incidents]).

What Which? has done:

- In June 2008 Which? submitted a response to the deregulation proposals which stated that the Government was basing its decision to deregulate laser treatments on an 'inadequate assessment' on the effects of such a move on both consumers and the NHS.

- In July 2008, over thirty patient groups, medical bodies, cosmetic clinics and industry representatives joined forces with Which? to oppose Government plans to stop regulating cosmetic laser treatments from 1 October. The groups signed a joint letter to Health Minister Ben Bradshaw MP, calling on him to halt Government plans to remove non-surgical laser treatments, like hair removal and skin treatments, from current healthcare regulation. Which? said that the Government had underestimated the financial impact of such a change on the NHS, the cosmetic treatment industry and the number of people burned as a result.

WHICH