CQC Registration
Under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act (2003), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for regulating and inspecting independent healthcare in England. Independent healthcare organisations are required by law to be registered with the CQC, if they provide treatments using prescribed techniques and technologies, including Laser and Intense Pulse Light therapy. To do so, providers must show they are meeting government’s national minimum standards of quality and safety across all of the regulated activities they provide.
The process stipulates that the Registered Manager must go through the Criminal Record Bureau checking process before application to the CQC for registration. The Clinic must also submit financial, business and medical references to demonstrate their suitability in addition to being able to demonstrate that they have met all of the 32 core standards.
On submission of the Clinic’s application, an assessor will visit the Clinic to ensure that all safety elements are in place and conduct a fit person interview under the National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001. Only when all of the conditions have been met, will a certificate of registration be issued.
April 2010 saw the repeal of the Care Standards Act 2000 and its replacement by The Health and Social Care Act 2008. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which took over from the Healthcare Commission (HCC) in April 2009, continued to regulate the use of Class 3b & Class 4 Lasers and Intense Pulse Light devices used in "surgical" applications (i.e. applications carried out in Hospitals and certain other NHS Establishments) but no longer regulates these devices used in any "non-surgical" applications (i.e. applications carried out in Beauty Salons, non-NHS Private Clinics and other cosmetic establishment) after October 2010.
As of 1st October 2010, Zap Laser Clinic, along with all other non-healthcare professionals in England using Class 3B and 4 lasers for non-surgical treatments, is no longer registered with the Care Quality Commission. As a result local authorities have become a ‘regulator of last resort’ for the safety of both consumers and those operating the equipment. The standard of special treatment licenses are currently under review by a government department who are working with the CQC and the Department of Health to provide recommendations to local authorities for an inspection proforma and enforcement expectations, maintenance requirements and where necessary access to specialist knowledge.
Currently WhichLaserClinic.com are carrying out a check of how councils are responding to this new challenge but at present (November 2010) only clinics who have previously been registered with the CQC are being listed within the WhichLaserClinic.com directory. This decision will be reassessed in April 2011 when it is expected local authorities will be up to speed with their new role.
In the interim Zap Laser Clinic will continue to uphold, all of the 32 core standards and 3 service specific standards and are confident that we can offer you not only the best equipment and treatments available, but offer them safely and effectively.
