A ‘not safe’ Doncaster cosmetic and weight loss clinic has been put into special measures after health watchdogs found evidence clients were being covertly filmed.
Elements Medical, also known as The Virtual Slimming Clinic online, on Thorne Road, received a visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Inspectors were horrified to discover a muscular injection Dysport in the fridge which had been turned off during opening hours due to its loud hum.
The BBC contacted Elements Medical, who said they ‘accept’ the findings of the report and branded it a ‘defining moment’ they would seek to learn from. Its report added that the CQC found evidence of clients being covertly filmed.
The report said, they were: “Covertly filmed at the premises including while receiving treatment, without their knowledge or consent.” Then went on: “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.
Medicine they found had writing in a foreign language and ‘did not have a licence to import any medicines.’ Staff told them it had been imported from Turkey which inspectors pointed out was not approved for use in England under Regulatory Agency (MHRA) by the Medicines Healthcare.
The inspectors added it was being used “in place of Botox, however, people using the service had not been informed of this.” The CQC also noted down unattended lit candles, a defibrillator which was ‘unusable’ in the case of an emergency, and unsafely stored oxygen.
Elements Medical told the BBC: “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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