Health Watchdog Declares Doncaster Clinic ‘Not Safe’ Amid Secret Filming Findings

A cosmetic and weight loss clinic that secretly recorded clients has been placed under special measures by the health regulator after being judged “not safe.” The Care Quality Commission (CQC) determined that Elements Medical in Doncaster was inadequate across all areas it assessed in October. The CQC also deemed the clinic “not safe” and “not effective” after inspectors discovered a significant quantity of the muscular injection Dysport in a refrigerator that was switched off during clinic hours due to noise. A spokesperson for Elements Medical issued an apology, stating that they “fully accept the findings of the CQC report.” Other concerns detailed in the report included individuals 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,” the report further noted. The clinic, situated on Thorne Road, also operates an online presence as The Virtual Slimming Clinic. It provides services such as weight management, pre and postoperative care for cosmetic and bariatric surgery, treatments for skin conditions including acne, and vitamin injections, according to the CQC. “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 stated. Inspectors also pointed out that Turkey is not an approved country for the supply of medicines for use in England by the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This injection was being utilized “in place of Botox, however, people using the service had not been informed of this,” the report continued. Furthermore, inspectors reported that the firm purchased the dilutant bacteriostatic sodium chloride 0.9% from a website that declared: “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.” Additional 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 without pads, rendering it “not usable in the event of an emergency.” The report concluded that the provider exhibited a “disregard for the safety of staff and people using the service and staff, confidentiality, and information security.” Elements Medical commented that the report had been “sobering and instructive,” and that “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.”