Superdrug should ensure its staff are ‘appropriately trained’ to screen patients for body dysmorphic disorder or unrealistic expectations when delivering its Botox service, NHS England has urged.

In a letter sent yesterday (6 September) to Superdrug chief executive Peter Macnab, NHS England national medical director Professor Stephen Powis called on the multiple to ensure it ‘appropriately’ trains its staff to carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures and that the service is ‘clinically sound and medically responsible’.

The letter said: ‘In the interests of protecting potentially vulnerable members of the public, your staff [should] be appropriately trained to screen for people with body dysmorphic disorder or unrealistic expectations about these procedures and [ensure] these checks are carried out.’

 

Ensuring ‘highest standards of care’

 

A Superdrug spokesperson told The Pharmacist today (7 September) that Superdrug is ‘highly supportive of championing a more regulated service to ensure patients safety in aesthetic treatments and would welcome the opportunity to work with NHS England and other organisations to achieve this’.

The news comes as the beauty chain announced last month it will offer a new Skin Renew Service to the over-25s, which includes Botox and fillers treatments starting from £99, to treat wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin.

The spokesperson said: ‘Having reviewed the letter from Professor Stephen Powis, we will be providing him with the full details on the qualifications of our practitioner and the processes we have in place to ensure the very highest standards of care and patient safety.’

They also confirmed that the service will be provided by ‘highly-trained aesthetic practitioners’. The multiple is drafting a response to the letter, they added.

 

‘Invasive procedures’

 

Professor Powis said that non-surgical cosmetic procedures are ‘invasive’ and can be accompanied by ‘serious risks’.

The letter read: ‘They should be offered only in situations where they are accompanied by a robust level of clinical governance, and they should be provided only by trained professionals with a full understanding of the implications and the risks involved.’

Professor Powis also requested Superdrug to provide more information on the training, qualifications and specialisms of the practitioners as well as which measures guaranty that patients give ‘correct legal consent’.

‘It’s important to remember that the clinicians involved with providing such treatments should be in a position to recognise and manage the complications that might result from the treatments provided,’ the letter added.