Clinic that secretly filmed clients 'not safe'

Doncaster-based Elements Medical has been deemed "not safe" by health watchdogs

A cosmetic and weight loss clinic that secretly filmed clients has been put into special measures by the health watchdog after being deemed "not safe".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Elements Medical in Doncaster was inadequate in every area it inspected in October.

It also deemed the clinic "not safe" and "not effective" after inspectors found a large quantity of the muscular injection Dysport in a fridge which was turned off during clinic times because it was noisy.

A spokesperson for Elements Medical apologised and said they "fully accept the findings of the CQC report".

'Covert filming'

Other concerns raised in the report included people being "covertly filmed at the premises including while receiving treatment, without their knowledge or consent".

"In addition, the provider told us that the closed-circuit television monitoring (CCTV) was monitored and managed by a third-party provider which posed a safeguarding risk," it added.

The clinic, which is on Thorne Road, also operates online as The Virtual Slimming Clinic.

It offers services including weight management, pre and postoperative care for cosmetic and bariatric surgery, treatments for skin conditions including acne, and vitamin injections, the CQC said.

"Staff told us this medicine had been imported from Turkey, and we found labels on the medicine were not in English, however, the provider did not have a licence to import any medicines to England," the report said.

The inspectors said that Turkey was also not an approved country for the purposes of supplying medicines for use in England by the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

This injection was being used "in place of Botox, however, people using the service had not been informed of this", the report continued.

Inspectors also said the firm bought the dilutant bacteriostatic sodium chloride 0.9% from a website which said: "All products listed on this website are for research purposes only.

"We do not advocate or advise human use, and any such use is entirely at your own risk."

'Disregard for safety'

Other safety concerns raised included obstructed fire exits, "lit candles in clinic and waiting rooms which were unattended for significant periods of time", unsafely stored oxygen, and a defibrillator with no pads, which left it "not usable in the event of an emergency".

The report concluded that the provider showed a "disregard for the safety of staff and people using the service and staff, confidentiality, and information security".

Elements Medical said the report had been "sobering and instructive" and "extensive work" had been undertaken to address "each concern raised".

It added: "This is a defining moment for us as an organisation, and we are determined to rebuild the trust of our clients by demonstrating meaningful change."

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