HEE publishes qualifications to improve safety of non-surgical procedures

The Health Education England (HEE) draft qualification standards we reported on back in 2014, aimed at improving and standardising the training available to aesthetic and cosmetic practitioners, have been finalised and published.

Commissioned by the Government Department of Health, the two reports set out qualification requirements for practitioners who perform treatments such as botox, chemical peels and laser hair removal, and put safety first by making sure people are properly trained in the use and application of any products that they use.

Part One sets out the qualification requirements, including guidance on the application of the requirements for different groups of practitioners working in the cosmetics or aesthetics field, while Part Two describes the final phase of the project – the detailed qualification requirements for delivery of non-surgical cosmetic interventions.

The review recommends further training requirements for those carrying out non-surgical treatments, including chemical peels and microneedling, as well as injectables and laser treatments.

The report recommends a minimum level-four training requirement (equivalent to year one of a foundation degree) for all advanced treatments, with some more medical services such as Botox and dermal fillers requiring additional training. This could mean that the therapists already offering laser treatments, chemical peels or micro-needling would need to undergo further assessment to bring them in line with new qualification standards.

However, when the draft versoin of the report was published in 2014, it came under criticism from many in the industry as there were no plans to make this advanced training mandatory.

In response to the publication of the finalised report, the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) and the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) have agreed to work together on the establishment of a joint council for the non-surgical sector.

The full reports are availble to read on the NHS website .