Government Set to Tighten Regulation of Aesthetic Procedures — But Does It Go Far Enough?
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
On 7th August 2025, the UK Government published its long-awaited response to the consultation on licensing non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England.
We welcome the progress — but we believe more needs to be done to ensure true consistency, safety, and professionalism across the country.
What’s Changing in the Aesthetics Industry?
The Government’s proposals include:
Local authority licensing for lower-risk procedures such as Botox and dermal fillers
CQC regulation for high-risk procedures such as liquid BBLs
National standards for training, qualifications, infection control, and premises
Ongoing enforcement of the ban on procedures for under-18s
Greater emphasis on informed consent and mental health safeguarding
While these changes are a step in the right direction, we have significant concerns about how they will be applied in practice.
Our Concerns: Risk of a “Postcode Lottery” in Patient Safety
Under the current plans, the licensing and enforcement of most injectable treatments will fall to local councils. While many councils will take this seriously, the reality is that resources, priorities, and enforcement capacity vary widely between regions.
This creates the risk of a postcode lottery in aesthetics safety — where the level of protection a patient receives could depend more on where they live than on the treatment they’re having.
Aesthetic medicine is recognised as a medical specialty by the Royal Society of Medicine. In our view, this means all injectable procedures should be regulated under the Care Quality Commission (CQC) — not just the highest-risk ones. CQC regulation provides a national, consistent, and medically-led framework for safeguarding patients, ensuring that every provider is held to the same standard of care.
How We Already Operate to the Highest Standards
We are proud to confirm that NewMed Healthcare Ltd (trading as MedHub) has been CQC registered since 2022, and our aesthetic services at The Medical Skin Clinic are provided by qualified medical professionals working within CQC-regulated premises and governance structures.
Being CQC registered means we are already held to the same five key standards as NHS providers and independent hospitals:
Safe – Full patient assessment, risk management, infection control, and emergency preparedness.
Effective – Evidence-based, clinically appropriate treatments.
Caring – Respect, dignity, and personalised aftercare.
Responsive – Accessible, inclusive services with onward referral where needed.
Well-led – Strong clinical governance, staff training, and continuous improvement.
We also uphold the principles of the JCCP and CPSA, using only prescription-only products from UK-licensed pharmacies and ensuring complications management is built into every treatment plan.
Why Patients Should Demand CQC-Registered Providers
Choosing a CQC-registered clinic means:
Your treatment is performed by a qualified, regulated healthcare professional
Your safety is prioritised before, during, and after treatment
Your provider is subject to independent inspection and accountability
There is a clear governance framework if something goes wrong
Our Position
While we welcome the Government’s commitment to improving safety in aesthetics, we call for all injectable procedures to be brought under CQC regulation.
This is the only way to guarantee consistent, nationwide standards that reflect the fact that injectables are medical treatments, not beauty add-ons. Patients deserve the same level of protection wherever they live, and the same quality of care from every provider they visit.
📍 Learn more about our clinical standards and the treatments we offer at:
📞 Call us on 01638 491074 or email reception@medicalskinclinic.co.uk
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