Beaux Aesthetics

This service is rated as Requires improvement overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Requires improvement

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Beaux Aesthetics as part of our inspection programme following the registration of a new service.

The service provides support to people to manage their weight, treatment of skin conditions, removal of minor lumps and bumps by minor surgery and consultation services.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Beaux Aesthetics provides a range of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example dermal fillers which are not within CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we did not inspect or report on these services.

Dr Harbidge is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our key findings were:

• There was a lack of good governance in some areas to keep people safe. For example, audits had not been completed and there was no process in place to ensure equipment checks had taken place.
• The service ensured patients were involved in decisions about their care.
• Medicine audits were not completed to ensure the effectiveness of the prescribing interventions or determine whether it was in line with best practice guidelines.
• Appointments were available on a pre-bookable basis.
• Patients were asked for consent to share details of their consultation and any medicines prescribed with their registered GP on each occasion they used the service.
• Patient records were not always comprehensive meaning there was a risk the provider did not have information they needed to deliver safe care and treatment.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Only supply unlicensed medicines against valid special clinical needs of an individual patient where there is no suitable licensed medicine available.
• Ensure patients have access to complaints information.
• Make it clear to patients on initial consultation there is no formal chaperone in place.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care