Although a record number of over 50,000 people throughout the UK opted to undertake cosmetic procedures in the UK in 2017, it’s interesting to note that until relatively recently, clinics which provide private treatments unavailable on the NHS, remain one of the least regulated areas of healthcare.
Our organisation has many parts all pulling towards the same purpose – to make care better within the NHS, social care and the independent healthcare sector. Since April 2017, when it became a legal requirement for independent clinics to register with us, we have been leading the way in regulating independent healthcare to help clinics provide a safe experience for consumers. Throughout this time, we have worked with over 200 clinics across Scotland to proactively set measures in place that provide quality assurance.
“Using the Quality of Care Approach, we can refer providers to good practice being used elsewhere, or can help to support them through the provision of information and guidelines. This approach enables Healthcare Improvement Scotland to utilise many tools, as well as registration and inspections, to support providers to improve their services.”
Our support to improve the care that clinics provide takes several forms, working within our own Quality of Care Approach. This approach is a methodology that helps providers to understand their own strengths, and potential areas for improvement, supporting providers to deliver these improvements through either direct or indirect input. Using the Quality of Care Approach, we can refer providers to good practice being used elsewhere, or can help to support them through the provision of information and guidelines. This approach enables Healthcare Improvement Scotland to utilise many tools, as well as registration and inspections, to support providers to improve their services.
Independent healthcare providers are required by law to register their clinic. This initial layer of regulation brings clear benefits for both the independent clinics and consumers that a provider has met various initial stringent criteria and is designed to assure the public that the provider is fit for practice. This process alone has helped to improve safety for customers opting for cosmetic procedures and has ensured that independent clinics continually ‘raise the bar’ by striving to improve the services that they provide.
Clinics that have registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland are also on the front foot from a business point of view; they are able to demonstrate to customers thinking of engaging with their services that they take the safety of their patients seriously; that they operate to the highest standards and that they are committed to continual improvement.
The registration process is stringent. There are strict requirements which clinics must meet in order to complete the process and, unfortunately, some providers have not met these requirements and as a consequence have been refused registration.
As an additional assurance for the public, registered clinics are required to participate in a rolling programme of inspections to help ensure that we can then continue work with that provider throughout their improvement journey. We also have the power to take enforcement action where services present a serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of patients. Members of the public who are unhappy with the services they have received from a registered independent clinic can also make a complaint to us which we will thoroughly investigate.
“Clinics that have registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland are also on the front foot from a business point of view; they are able to demonstrate to customers thinking of engaging with their services that they take the safety of their patients seriously; that they operate to the highest standards and that they are committed to continual improvement.”
The first independent clinic inspections will begin later this year. We are aware that registration and inspection is new to providers in Scotland and it can be a steep learning curve. In order to fully support providers, we are undertaking various learning sessions throughout Scotland which will help clinics to prepare their businesses and to understand how registration and inspection work towards improving safety and care.
The Quality of Care Approach is enabling us to use many different tools to provide targeted support for independent healthcare providers, helping them to make care better for their patients.
Karen Beattie is a Senior Inspector at Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
More information
For further information, visit our website or contact the Independent Healthcare Enquiry Line.
Tel: 0131 623 4342
Email: hcis.clinicregulation@nhs.net
Healthcare Improvement Scotland Blog 