We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 17 April 2018 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

My Beauty Doctor Ltd is a private, GP lead, dermatology service and provides aesthetic medical and cosmetic services in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. In addition, the service also undertook blood tests and reviews of the results of such tests for clients undertaking a specific weight loss programme.

My Beauty Doctor also conducts cosmetic treatments to day-clients using a range of non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures including laser and non-laser technology and treatment techniques.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of service and these are set out in Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Therefore, at My Beauty Doctor, we were only able to inspect the services which were subject to regulation. Specifically, we inspected the service relating to the blood tests and review of the results of such tests for clients undertaking a specific weight loss programme. The blood tests were carried out to monitor organ function during the rapid weight loss programme and were not available for those under the age of 18.

We received feedback from 17 clients about the service, including comment cards, all of which were very positive about the service and indicated that clients were treated with kindness and respect. Staff were described as helpful, caring, thorough and professional. However, there was no method to establish how many of the cards referred to the blood testing service we inspected.

Our key findings were:

• The service had systems to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse. Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses.

• Appropriate systems were in place to identify, assess and manage risk.

• The service assessed needs and delivered the registered blood testing service in line with relevant and current evidence based guidance

• Advice on maintaining healthy eating once the programme concluded was available to support a healthier life.

• The service put their clients first before financial gain. They would not provide treatment where they felt it was not in the client’s best interest.

• The provider was motivated to prioritise the needs of their clients and they would not provide treatment that they did not feel was in their best interest.

• The service provided a range of appointments which allowed clients to access the blood testing service within an acceptable timescale.

• Clients could contact the service or complete feedback forms in the suggestion box within the reception area, the service analysed this feedback including feedback on internet based review forums.

• Governance arrangements ensured policies and procedures relevant to the management of the service were kept under review.

• There was a commitment to widening the range of registered services available to people who wished to access private clinic services. For example, in May 2018 a new GP is joining the team which will lead to an increase in services provided.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice