A cosmetic and weight loss clinic in Doncaster has been deemed “not safe” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after it was found to have secretly filmed patients. The CQC’s report, released on Friday, revealed that Elements Medical, which also operates online as The Virtual Slimming Clinic, was inadequate in all areas assessed during an October inspection. The findings indicated that the clinic was “not safe,” “not effective,” and “not well led.”
Elements Medical provides various services, including weight management, pre and postoperative care for cosmetic and bariatric surgery, skin condition treatments like acne, and vitamin injections. However, the CQC highlighted several serious concerns. Among them was the revelation that patients were covertly filmed during treatments without their knowledge or consent. Additionally, the clinic’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) was managed by an external provider, raising further safeguarding issues.
Inspectors discovered a significant amount of Dysport, a muscular injection, stored in a refrigerator that was turned off during operating hours due to noise. Staff informed inspectors that this medication had been imported from Turkey, with labels not in English. The clinic lacked a license to import medicines into England, and Turkey is not recognized as an approved source for supplying medicines for use in England by the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The report also noted that Elements Medical used Dysport as a substitute for Botox without informing patients. Furthermore, vials intended for single use were shared among multiple patients, creating a considerable infection risk. Inspectors found that the clinic sourced Bacteriostatic sodium chloride 0.9% from a website that explicitly stated its products were meant for research only and not recommended for human use.
Additional safety issues included blocked fire exits, unattended lit candles in waiting areas, improperly stored oxygen tanks, and a defibrillator lacking pads, rendering it unusable in emergencies. The CQC concluded that the clinic exhibited a disregard for the safety of both staff and patients, as well as for confidentiality and information security.
The assessment team noted a lack of openness and transparency from staff during the inspection. They observed no evidence that patients at risk had been informed of potential dangers posed by the service. While the CQC did not evaluate how caring or responsive the service was during this inspection—areas that previously rated as good—being placed in special measures means Elements Medical will be closely monitored by the CQC.
Alan Stephenson, deputy director of operations at the CQC in the north, expressed serious concerns about patient safety and management practices at Elements Medical. He pointed out widespread deficiencies in staff understanding of procedures and consent processes related to patient safety. Staff were found to lack basic knowledge of safeguarding protocols.
Stephenson stated that the CQC expects rapid improvements from Elements Medical and will continue to monitor their progress closely. He emphasized that further action would be taken if necessary to ensure patient care standards are upheld.
The full report will be available on the CQC’s website soon. In response to the findings, Sandy Green, owner of Elements Medical, issued an apology for the identified shortcomings. She reassured clients of their commitment to patient care and safety while acknowledging the need for improvement based on feedback from the inspection.
Green stated that extensive efforts are underway to address these issues to prevent recurrence and pledged cooperation with the CQC moving forward. She described this moment as pivotal for the organization and expressed determination to rebuild trust with clients through meaningful changes.
