If you don't speak, your voice won't be heard

Abstract

Journal of Aesthetic NursingVol. 6, No. 3 EditorialFree AccessIf you don't speak, your voice won't be heardNatasha DevanNatasha DevanSearch for more papers by this authorNatasha DevanPublished Online:4 Apr 2017https://doi.org/10.12968/joan.2017.6.3.117AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail With non-health groups galavanting through the Wild West of medical aesthetics, it is no wonder that tensions are high. Although the national qualification requirements for the delivery of non-surgical cosmetic procedures state that only registered health professionals (e.g. doctors, dentists and nurse independent prescribers) can undertake accredited level 7 training (Health Education England, 2015; Industry Qualifications, 2017), academies for ‘aesthetic practitioners’, such as aUK Cosmetic Training and Cosmetic Couture, are promoting courses at this level, delivered by none other than beauty therapists.Whether publicly in the media or privately on closed forums, the number of shocking stories being reported about the harmed faces of vulnerable people is on the rise. Not even a month ago, an investigation following a 17-year-old girl who was pressured into having lip fillers hit the national headlines (Strick and Bentley, 2017). But the truth is, without legislation or a U-turn from the Government (though that is not unheard of these days!), this won't be the last we hear of unethical practice.The notion of Tom, Dick and Harry being able to inject without consequence or accountability is as frustrating to comprehend as ever. With emotive posts being published daily on social media by medical aesthetic practitioners, including nurses, I made my way to the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) stakeholder meeting on 24 February expecting nothing short of fireworks. Sitting with my smartphone, ready to tweet live updates from the venue, I waited patiently for the event to start, keeping my eye on the door to see how many practitioners, medical regulator representatives and industry experts would come through. But by the time the Interim Chair's presentation had begun, only half of the seats were filled. Excluding myself and my fellow editors, I could only spot a handful of dedicated medical aesthetic practitioners. Not one doctor, nurse or dentist who expressed their anguish on social media turned up to tell their tale. And they were missed.If you are one of the hundreds of experienced aesthetic practitioners out there using evidence-based arguments to make crucial points on standards of care and patient safety, your voice needs to be heard offline as well as online. Those in power can choose to respond to you or neglect your concerns as they wish behind a computer screen, but when questions are asked in person, it is harder for them to be ignored.On page 160, cosmetic doctor Aarti Denning poses the question: ‘Why are we reinventing the wheel in medical aesthetics?’. She wants to know why voluntary registers have been appointed to take on responsibility for the regulation of medical aesthetic practice, and why this is not in the remit of existing regulatory bodies, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council and General Medical Council.The next JCCP meeting will be on 13 April and the Council is open to hearing your thoughts and reservations ([email protected]). So why not clear your diary, go to the venue and ask those all-important questions playing on your mind? It might be your only chance. References Health Education England (2015) Part One: Qualification Requirements for Delivery of Cosmetic Procedures: Non-Surgical Cosmetic Interventions and Hair Restoration Surgery. http://tinyurl.com/z43cs8s (Accessed 16 March 2017) Google ScholarIndustry Qualifications (2017) IQ Level 7 Certificate in Injectables for Aesthetic Medicine. http://tinyurl.com/mulcggq (Accessed 24 March 2017) Google ScholarStrick K, Bentley P (2017) Exposed: How schoolgirls are being preyed on by lip filler cowboys who charge them as little as £59 for a jab which can scar them for life. http://tinyurl.com/mxp4ldq (Accessed 27 March 2017) Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 April 2017Volume 6Issue 3ISSN (print): 2050-3717ISSN (online): 2052-2878 Metrics History Published online 4 April 2017 Published in print 2 April 2017 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download