care quality commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England regulating care provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies and voluntary organisations. The CQC assures safety and quality and assesses the performance of commissioners and providers.
Independent healthcare organisations must be registered because of the types of services they provide, and this shows they are meeting the government’s national minimum standards through the registration process and annual self-assessment.
Good Skin Days has undergone this rigorous registration process where stringent criteria has had to be met to obtain registration. We are extremely pleased to inform you that we are fully registered with the CQC ensuring that the highest possible standards have been met for you whilst you are receiving treatment with us.
why do facilities offering laser treatments need to be registered?
Establishments which are offering treatments with a laser or a similar piece of equipment commonly known as an IPL must be registered with the CQC for what is known as Class 3B and Class 4 lasers. Lasers are now commonly used for treatments such as hair, tattoo and facial red vein removal. Due to the potentially dangerous nature of these pieces of equipment for causing severe burning, scarring and potential loss of sight, it is essential that any facility offering treatments like these take the points below into account.
facility layout and specification
CQC legislation and regulations state that the facility must conform to high standards of safety both in terms of the layout and specification of materials used in the build and fitout. In a room where laser treatments are delivered, this has to include specialist finishes within the room itself, for example, none-reflective door handles and taps on sinks, none-reflective blinds (to reduce the possiblity of a laser beam being deflected), a certain number of air changes per hour in the room to ensure clean air, a room that can be secured once a treatment is in progress to reduce the chances of an accident.
Good Skin Days not only meets these standards, but in a lot of cases exceeds them. When you come in to see us for your free consultation, we always give a brief explanation as to the safety measure we have taken in the rooms where we are delivering treatments.
qualified and trained practitioners in the safe use of lasers
It is a CQC requirement that any practitioners using a laser have undergone extensive training before they can deliver treatments to clients. As part of the CQC inspection and registration process – this is all checked out.
Good Skin Days prides itself on all of its staff not only meeting these basic requirements but exceeding them with an ongoing programme in place to continually develop training and expertise in the safe delivery of treatments.
policies and procedures
It is one thing to have a facility that meets the requirements and trained staff, but another to have the numerous policies and procedures that ensure we are delivering a safe and effective service to clients. This covers areas such as auditing our equipment and staff on a regular basis.
Good Skin Days have all of these in place and have a programme of continual audit which we regularly review. All of our staff are inducted in these policies and procedures as part of their induction process.
why is this important?
The answer is simple. To ensure that providers deliver a safe and effective service within a suitably safe environment. Whilst there are other registered and insured providers offering similar treatments, there are also a lot of unregistered and uninsured providers.
We suggest you always ask a provider to show you a copy of their CQC and insurance certificates – it is mandatory to have them on display in a public area within a clinic or similar facility.
Good Skin Days have their certificates on display in the Waiting Room and Reception areas.
For more information about the Care Quality Commission, please visit their website www.cqc.org.uk