“The Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) welcomes the government’s announcement of tougher regulations to address unsafe cosmetic procedures and protect public health.

“As the independent source of data on private healthcare in the UK, PHIN has long supported efforts to improve transparency, accountability, and safety across the sector. The proposed measures – ensuring that only qualified healthcare professionals perform high-risk procedures, introducing licensing standards for clinics, and protecting young people from harmful beauty trends – represent a vital step forward in safeguarding patients and reducing the burden on the NHS.

“Going beyond just cosmetic surgery, we are also working with our colleagues in the NHS and private sector to further recommendation 1 from the independent inquiry into the issues raised by criminal surgeon Ian Paterson to ‘provide a single repository of the whole practice of consultants across England, setting out their area of medical specialty and fitness to practise and other critical consultant performance data, for example, how many times a consultant has performed a particular procedure and how recently’. This should further improve patient safety.

“We look forward to contributing to the upcoming public consultation on cosmetic surgery and helping shape a regulatory framework that prioritises patient safety, professional integrity, and transparency.

“Anyone considering having a cosmetic procedure should read our guide on what to watch out for.”