Dr Matla Aesthetics

This service is rated as Requires improvement overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Requires improvement

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Matla Aesthetics as part of our inspection programme, to inspect all newly registered locations. This was a first rated inspection for the service since they registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March 2022. We visited the clinic site on 3 April 2023, followed by a remote interview with the registered manager on 17 April 2023.

Dr Matla Aesthetics provides a private aesthetics service for fee paying clients. This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services they provide. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Dr Matla Aesthetics provides a range of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example dermal filler injections, anti-wrinkle treatments and non-prescription topical treatment for skin conditions which are not within CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we did not inspect or report on these services. At the time of the inspection, they offered thread face lifts, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for hair loss and male sexual dysfunction and medical treatment for migraines, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and weight management, which were within scope of the regulations.

The lead clinician is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our key findings were:

• The service had systems to safeguarded from abuse. However, some of the safety systems were not effective with the provider implementing improvements after the CQC site visit.
• The provider gathered available information to deliver safe care and treatment to patients. However, there were gaps in data sharing and information governance arrangements.
• We found there was a reactive rather than proactive approach to identifying and responding to quality assurance and governance issues. We were concerned the providers governance systems were not developed and embedded enough to proactively identify, mitigate, and manage any new or emerging risks.
• The service had reliable systems for appropriate and safe handling of medicines.
• The service learned and made improvements when things went wrong.
• We saw evidence the service assessed needs and delivered care and treatment in line with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion and helped to be involved in decisions about care and treatment.
• The service organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs.

The area where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review and improve the arrangements and equipment in place for responding to medical emergencies.
• Share information directly with patient’s GPs, with patient consent, in line with General Medical Council (GMC) guidance when patient care could be compromised by a lack of sharing. For example, medicines such as GLP1 inhibitors prescribed for weight loss.
• Make sure the complaint process is accessible and publicised online so people who use the service can access it easily in the event they are unhappy with the care, treatment or service received.
• Check and amend policies and procedures, such as the chaperone policy, to make sure they reflect the way the service operates.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services