£2m cost to NHS and injury-risk didn’t deter deregulation proposals, say clinicians

9th, May 2008

Legal & Medical has discovered that clinicians have been circulating extracts from the government’s consultation on deregulation of cosmetic laser treatments. And encouraging people to respond, and sign a petition against it.

The Department of Health released a consultation in March, which closes in June proposing deregulation of laser and intense pulsed light used for cosmetic purposes. At present anyone wishing to administer class 4 laser treatment, such as laser removal have to be registered with the Healthcare Commission and adhere to certain standards. They have proposed that this is no longer required.

An email was sent to Legal & Medical containing extracts from the Department of Health consultation, a link to the consultation document, and to a petition against deregulation.

The email highlights the fact that the Department of Health consultation document suggests that deregulation could cause “direct costs from having to treat the increase in adverse incidents, possibly all falling on the NHS, will be between [up to] £1.8m.”

And, “deregulation would generate an extra 1700 – 3400 adverse incidents per year.”

But the consultation document states: “The levels of risk involved in the use of lasers/IPL equipment for non-surgical purposes lead us to believe that the current regulatory regime is not proportionate to the risk of harm to patients.”

The petition referred to in the email was set up by Dr Paul Myers a member of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD) and so far has been signed by 659 people.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) have also questioned the plans. Speaking to Legal & Medical Douglas McGeorge President of BAAPS said:

“Self regulation will mean that health and safety isn’t imposed on providers. Patients could be harmed and we shouldn’t wait for this to happen.”

Mr Gault who helped to develop the first depilation laser has also questionned the plans, Speaking to Legal & Medical he said:

“I see people damaged by lasers.

“It’s usually temporary damage but a year and a half with ‘temporary’ adverse pigmentation when you have to wear different clothes etc, is a significant fraction of people’s lives. So it is a nuisance.

“The big problem is that most of the cases of adverse effects from laser treatment are from hair removal in the commercial sector or the cosmetic industry.”

The proposals have not yet been decided upon and the consultation will end on the 10th of June. In releasing the consultation Ben Bradshaw wrote to consultees saying, “your comments on this consultation are vital to ensure that the Department regulates effectively.”

£2m cost to NHS and injury-risk didn’t deter deregulation proposals, say clinicians

Legal & Medical has discovered that clinicians have been circulating extracts from the government’s consultation on deregulation of cosmetic laser treatments. And encouraging people to respond, and sign a petition against it.

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