Latest news with #CharteredTradingStandardsInstitute
STV News
3 days ago
- Health
- STV News
Fat injections and Brazilian butt lifts 'offered in public toilets'
A 'Wild West' of fat injections, Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), Botox and fillers are being offered by untrained people in places such as public toilets, trading standards leaders have warned. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said there was a need for urgent Government action over unregulated and unlicensed practitioners and treatments, alongside where they can be offered. It said it had uncovered: – 'Shocking' locations where procedures such as fillers are being administered, including 'pop-up' shops on high streets, cubicles in public toilets and hotel rooms. It said these locations fall outside typical business premises and make taking action difficult. – 'Unsafe and unregulated' fillers available for sale online to shoppers for as little as £20. – Growing concerns over fat-dissolving injections, such as Lemon Bottle, which have 'little to no regulatory oversight to ensure their safe use by the public'. – A 'postcode lottery' across the UK in the minimum age at which such procedures can be carried out – with young people crossing borders for treatment. The CTSI said lives could be at risk amid the 'major gaps' in regulation on who is responsible for the products and procedures. It also said no data is available on how often the NHS is having to deal with infections and life-threatening complications when things go wrong. The CTSI issued a fresh warning to the public to check the qualifications of people offering cosmetic procedures, be wary of people advertising on social media and to not buy products to use at home. Kerry Nicol, external affairs manager at the CTSI, said: 'I am genuinely shocked by the scale of potential harm facing the public due to the alarming lack of regulation in the aesthetic industry. 'Consumers' lives are being put at risk every single day. What's worse is that many of these unregulated practitioners are preying on people's vulnerabilities and the pressures they feel around body image, they are taking advantage of those who are often just looking for a boost to their confidence or self-esteem. 'Alarm bells would ring if someone was offering a tattoo in someone's kitchen or a public toilet at a cheap price – so those are the alarm bells we need ringing for people offering facial injections in these kinds of settings. 'Action is urgently needed to crack down on the bad players operating in this sector. 'This isn't an issue that Trading Standards alone can fix, it's a Government and multi-agency responsibility that requires co-ordinated activity. 'A logical and immediate first step is the introduction of a national licensing scheme, giving the public a clear indication of who is qualified to carry out these procedures. 'It's time the UK takes public safety seriously and weeds out those putting lives at risk.' Ashton Collins, director at Save Face, a register of accredited practitioners, said: 'Since 2023, we have been campaigning for the government to ban liquid BBLs from the high street and restrict their administration to qualified plastic surgeons. 'We cautioned that without urgent action, lives would be at risk, and sadly, in 2024, Alice Webb tragically lost her life after undergoing a liquid BBL procedure. 'Alongside CTSI, we are determined to ensure our call to restrict liquid BBLs is acted upon. 'Additionally, we are focused on reinforcing existing legislation that has long failed to protect patients from unscrupulous practitioners who continue to flaunt the law with impunity. 'For too long, regulations intended to safeguard patients have been inadequately policed and enforced.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'People's lives are being put at risk by inadequately trained operators in the cosmetic sector, which is why the Government is looking into new regulations to protect people. 'The safety of patients is paramount and we urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to consider the possible health impacts and find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Warning 'lives at risk' over fat injections being given in the UK
Warning 'lives at risk' over fat injections being given in the UK The CTSI has found unsafe locations, a lack of regulation, little oversight and a postcode lottery Cosmetic injections need to be more tightly regulated A 'Wild West' of fat injections, Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), Botox and fillers are being offered by untrained people in places such as public toilets, trading standards leaders have warned. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said there was a need for urgent Government action over unregulated and unlicensed practitioners and treatments, alongside where they can be offered. It said it had uncovered: 'Shocking' locations where procedures such as fillers are being administered, including 'pop-up' shops on high streets, cubicles in public toilets and hotel rooms. It said these locations fall outside typical business premises and make taking action difficult. "Unsafe and unregulated' fillers available for sale online to shoppers for as little as £20. Growing concerns over fat-dissolving injections, such as Lemon Bottle, which have 'little to no regulatory oversight to ensure their safe use by the public'. A 'postcode lottery' across the UK in the minimum age at which such procedures can be carried out – with young people crossing borders for treatment. The CTSI said lives could be at risk amid the 'major gaps' in regulation on who is responsible for the products and procedures. It also said no data is available on how often the NHS is having to deal with infections and life-threatening complications when things go wrong. The CTSI issued a fresh warning to the public to check the qualifications of people offering cosmetic procedures, be wary of people advertising on social media and to not buy products to use at home. Kerry Nicol, external affairs manager at the CTSI, said: 'I am genuinely shocked by the scale of potential harm facing the public due to the alarming lack of regulation in the aesthetic industry. 'Consumers' lives are being put at risk every single day. What's worse is that many of these unregulated practitioners are preying on people's vulnerabilities and the pressures they feel around body image, they are taking advantage of those who are often just looking for a boost to their confidence or self-esteem. Article continues below 'Alarm bells would ring if someone was offering a tattoo in someone's kitchen or a public toilet at a cheap price – so those are the alarm bells we need ringing for people offering facial injections in these kinds of settings. Action is urgently needed to crack down on the bad players operating in this sector. 'This isn't an issue that Trading Standards alone can fix, it's a Government and multi-agency responsibility that requires co-ordinated activity. A logical and immediate first step is the introduction of a national licensing scheme, giving the public a clear indication of who is qualified to carry out these procedures. 'It's time the UK takes public safety seriously and weeds out those putting lives at risk.' Ashton Collins, director at Save Face, a register of accredited practitioners, said: 'Since 2023, we have been campaigning for the government to ban liquid BBLs from the high street and restrict their administration to qualified plastic surgeons. We cautioned that without urgent action, lives would be at risk, and sadly, in 2024, Alice Webb tragically lost her life after undergoing a liquid BBL procedure. 'Alongside CTSI, we are determined to ensure our call to restrict liquid BBLs is acted upon. Additionally, we are focused on reinforcing existing legislation that has long failed to protect patients from unscrupulous practitioners who continue to flaunt the law with impunity. 'For too long, regulations intended to safeguard patients have been inadequately policed and enforced.' Article continues below A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'People's lives are being put at risk by inadequately trained operators in the cosmetic sector, which is why the Government is looking into new regulations to protect people. 'The safety of patients is paramount and we urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to consider the possible health impacts and find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Cosmetic cowboys running 'pop-up clinics in public toilets', watchdogs warn
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has called for tighter regulations such as a Minister-led task force to tackle rogue outlets dishing out Brazilian Butt Lifts, botox and fillers Cosmetic cowboys are dishing out dangerous procedures in "pop-up" clinics in public toilet cubicles and hotel rooms, watchdogs warn today. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said rogue outlets dishing out Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL), botox and fillers must be subject to tighter regulations to stop them posing a danger to life. Experts said there is a "wild west of untrained, unlicensed and uninsured individuals". A probe by Trading Standards officers discovered shocking "pop up" shops on high streets, cubicles in public toilets and hotel rooms. It means unscrupulous providers of cosmetic surgery - including the soaring popularity of fat injections - are able to vanish before they face action. And the officers also uncovered "unsafe and unregulated filler products" being sold online to everyday consumers for as little as £20. Richard Knight, CTSI Lead Officer for Cosmetics and Beauty, said: 'Trading Standards have warned that in most cases the products and services in the aesthetics injectable sector are unregulated. "Because of the big gap between the lack of hard and fast safety rules, and consumer expectations of their protection under the law, we are gathering evidence of harms to the public as part of a joint initiative to urge law-makers to adopt a cross-Government approach to tackling this Wild West situation.' Last year The Mirror launched a campaign to ban cosmetic cowboys. We are calling for beauty clinics offering potentially dangerous procedures such as Brazilian butt lifts and liposuction to be licensed by the Quality Care Commission. It is over a decade since the Government was warned about the need for control of the market in aesthetic procedures. But the CTSI says there "remains a vacuum which has already put lives at risk". Last September, we reported mum-of-five Alice Webb, 33, became the first to die after a liquid Brazilian butt lift in a UK clinic. Meanwhile mum-of-two Jodie Nicholson, 30, was taken to A&E with sepsis after a BBL. In light of a wave of Brits facing terrifying health complications, the CTSI are today calling for a licensing scheme to help regulate the sector and the establishment of a Ministerial-led government Task Force. Ahead of the UK's Trading Standards' Annual Conference this week, the Institute is now working with a coalition of national charities. And they are demanding an extension of underage legislation to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as the removal of unsafe products sold online Kerry Nicol, External Affairs Manager at CTSI, said: 'I am genuinely shocked by the scale of potential harm facing the public due to the alarming lack of regulation in the aesthetic industry. "Consumers' lives are being put at risk every single day. What's worse is that many of these unregulated practitioners are preying on people's vulnerabilities and the pressures they feel around body image, they are taking advantage of those who are often just looking for a boost to their confidence or self-esteem. 'Alarm bells would ring if someone was offering a tattoo in someone's kitchen or a public toilet at a cheap price - so those are the alarm bells we need ringing for people offering facial injections in these kinds of settings. "Action is urgently needed to crack down on the bad players operating in this sector. This isn't an issue that Trading Standards alone can fix, it's a Government and multi-agency responsibility that requires coordinated activity. 'A logical and immediate first step is the introduction of a national licensing scheme, giving the public a clear indication of who is qualified to carry out these procedures. It's time the UK takes public safety seriously and weed out those putting lives at risk.' Ian Andrews, Head of Environmental Health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: 'We're concerned about CTSI's findings and would welcome clarity from the Government on when further legislation will be consulted on because what our members currently work with is outdated. The creation of a national licensing scheme would ensure that all those who practise are competent and trained, improving safety for members of the public.' Ashton Collins, Director at Save Face, said: 'We are delighted to join forces with CTSI on this campaign. Since 2023, we have been campaigning for the government to ban liquid BBLs from the high street and restrict their administration to qualified plastic surgeons. "We cautioned that without urgent action, lives would be at risk, and sadly, in 2024, Alice Webb tragically lost her life after undergoing a liquid BBL procedure. Alongside CTSI, we are determined to ensure our call to restrict liquid BBLs is acted upon. "Additionally, we are focused on reinforcing existing legislation that has long failed to protect patients from unscrupulous practitioners who continue to flaunt the law with impunity. "For too long, regulations intended to safeguard patients have been inadequately policed and enforced. Together, we aim to address the illegal importation of unlicensed products, remote prescriptions, and misleading advertising on social media. "We strongly believe that by successfully implementing these measures, we can significantly improve industry standards and safeguard the public.' Cheryl Barton, Lead Nurse at Aesthetika Clinic, said: 'It is very important that any untoward or adverse effects, events or reactions from taking or receiving any medicines, injections or from treatments using medical devices are reported to MHRA."
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Citizens Advice says it helps someone with a disability aid complaint every hour
The charity said it helped someone with a complaint about a disability aid 'every hour', with 48% of all complaints relating specifically to mobility vehicles. Faulty goods made up more than two-thirds (69%) of disability aid issues reported to the charity's consumer service, including products that were unsafe, of poor quality, broken shortly after purchase, or never worked to begin with. The advisory service said it had dealt with cases where people were stranded over their bath, stuck on the top floor of their house waiting for delayed repairs to a stairlift, or left in pain from using products which did not meet their needs. In total, 70% of all complaints were specifically about aids designed to help people with mobility, including – as well as mobility scooters – stairlifts (12%) and mobility and bath aids (10%). A UK-wide survey by the charity found that around one in seven people (7.4 million) bought an aid for themselves or someone else in the last year. It warned that people buying disability aids experienced problems at every point of the process, from confusing and technical product information and poor customer service to poor quality items and a lack of warranty support. Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: 'Too often, disabled people are being failed by a disability aids market that isn't meeting their needs – and instead of offering support, it's creating new barriers. 'Problems like faulty products and poor service don't just leave people out of pocket, they can leave them literally stranded or unable to carry out even the most basic tasks. Having to battle to resolve problems only makes this worse. 'In this growing market, it's vital consumers are armed with the correct information before making a purchase. We urge people to do their research, know their rights and stay safe when buying – and remember we're here to help.' John Herriman, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: 'These findings are deeply concerning and highlight just how vital effective consumer education is for disabled people to help ensure accessibility and inclusion. 'Alongside enforcement, we need to ensure disabled consumers are empowered with the right information to make informed choices, recognise poor practice, and know where to turn for help. 'CTSI is committed to working with partners and the Approved Code Scheme provider – the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) – to raise awareness, and support education efforts to protect all consumers, and ensure businesses are held to the standards they should be meeting.'
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Fat injections and Brazilian butt lifts ‘offered in public toilets', experts say
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said there was a need for urgent Government action over unregulated and unlicensed practitioners and treatments, alongside where they can be offered. It said it had uncovered: – 'Shocking' locations where procedures such as fillers are being administered, including 'pop-up' shops on high streets, cubicles in public toilets and hotel rooms. It said these locations fall outside typical business premises and make taking action difficult. – 'Unsafe and unregulated' fillers available for sale online to shoppers for as little as £20. – Growing concerns over fat-dissolving injections, such as Lemon Bottle, which have 'little to no regulatory oversight to ensure their safe use by the public'. – A 'postcode lottery' across the UK in the minimum age at which such procedures can be carried out – with young people crossing borders for treatment. The CTSI said lives could be at risk amid the 'major gaps' in regulation on who is responsible for the products and procedures. It also said no data is available on how often the NHS is having to deal with infections and life-threatening complications when things go wrong. The CTSI issued a fresh warning to the public to check the qualifications of people offering cosmetic procedures, be wary of people advertising on social media and to not buy products to use at home. Kerry Nicol, external affairs manager at the CTSI, said: 'I am genuinely shocked by the scale of potential harm facing the public due to the alarming lack of regulation in the aesthetic industry. 'Consumers' lives are being put at risk every single day. What's worse is that many of these unregulated practitioners are preying on people's vulnerabilities and the pressures they feel around body image, they are taking advantage of those who are often just looking for a boost to their confidence or self-esteem. 'Alarm bells would ring if someone was offering a tattoo in someone's kitchen or a public toilet at a cheap price – so those are the alarm bells we need ringing for people offering facial injections in these kinds of settings. 'Action is urgently needed to crack down on the bad players operating in this sector. 'This isn't an issue that Trading Standards alone can fix, it's a Government and multi-agency responsibility that requires co-ordinated activity. 'A logical and immediate first step is the introduction of a national licensing scheme, giving the public a clear indication of who is qualified to carry out these procedures. 'It's time the UK takes public safety seriously and weeds out those putting lives at risk.' Ashton Collins, director at Save Face, a register of accredited practitioners, said: 'Since 2023, we have been campaigning for the government to ban liquid BBLs from the high street and restrict their administration to qualified plastic surgeons. 'We cautioned that without urgent action, lives would be at risk, and sadly, in 2024, Alice Webb tragically lost her life after undergoing a liquid BBL procedure. 'Alongside CTSI, we are determined to ensure our call to restrict liquid BBLs is acted upon. 'Additionally, we are focused on reinforcing existing legislation that has long failed to protect patients from unscrupulous practitioners who continue to flaunt the law with impunity. 'For too long, regulations intended to safeguard patients have been inadequately policed and enforced.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'People's lives are being put at risk by inadequately trained operators in the cosmetic sector, which is why the Government is looking into new regulations to protect people. 'The safety of patients is paramount and we urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to consider the possible health impacts and find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner.'
