During an assessment under our new approach
We carried out an announced comprehensive assessment of Pharma Aesthetics on 29 June 2026. This was the first assessment of the service since its registration on 2 March 2022.
Pharma Aesthetics is registered to provide treatment of disease, disorder and injury and services in slimming clinics. The service operates as a private medical facility offering a walk-in clinic service to treat minor illnesses, vaccination and travel clinic services, cosmetic procedures, services for slimming clinics, treating long-term conditions and diagnostic and screening procedures. However, at the time of the assessment, we were informed these services were not operational and no regulated activities were being delivered at Pharma Aesthetics, 16 Broadway, Rainham, RM13 9YW.
At the time of the assessment Pharma Aesthetics informed CQC that they had entered into a satellite clinic agreement with Manchester Dermatology Clinic (MDC) on 1 November 2025. The agreement stated that MDC was permitted to operate under Pharma Aesthetics’ CQC registration. Manchester Dermatology Clinic is based at Unit 5, 55 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ. It offers services related to medical dermatology and aesthetics treatments.
ADHDdiagnosis.co.uk offers online services in relation to ADHD diagnosis and ADHD titration treatment. A contractor agreement dated 23 May 2026 stated that Pharma Aesthetics traded as ADHD Diagnosis and appointed contractors to provide ADHD titration appointments. Pharma Aesthetics remained the registered provider for the regulated activities being delivered under these arrangements.
The provider had a pharmacist independent prescriber recorded as their CQC Registered Manager but had stepped down from their role and was no longer associated with the service as of November 2025. Pharma Aesthetics appointed two new directors in November 2025 and advised CQC the Registered Manager no longer had access to the service and was not involved in the management or delivery of regulated activities. The previous Registered Manager (RM) remained recorded as the RM with CQC at the time of our assessment. An application to either remove the previous registered manager or appoint a replacement RM was not made.
On 25 June 2026, the provider informed us of a further change in directorship and advised CQC that one of the directors had been replaced with a new director.
Safe: During our assessment, we found the service did not have a good learning culture and there were no clear processes, guidance or pathways for people to raise concerns. Through our review of clinical records, policies and risk assessments, we were not assured people were protected and kept safe. Facilities and equipment did not meet the needs of people and risks were not appropriately mitigated. Evidence provided by the provider did not demonstrate that staff had the necessary skills, qualifications and experience to carry out their roles safely. We found limited evidence that appropriate training had been completed.
Effective: People were not routinely involved in assessments of their needs. Our review of clinical records indicated that care was not delivered in line with current evidence-based guidance and good practice. Staff did not work with other professionals and agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services.
Caring: We saw limited evidence people were treated with kindness and compassion. We did not see any evidence the service supported staff wellbeing.
Responsive: We were not assured people were involved in decisions about their care. We were not assured people knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it.
Well-led: Leaders and staff did not have a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were not visible, knowledgeable and supportive. There was no culture of continuous improvement and learning.
We identified breaches of regulation in relation to Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) and Regulation 17 (good governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
This service is being placed in special measures. The purpose of special measures is to ensure that services providing inadequate care make significant improvements. Special measures provide a framework within which we use our enforcement powers in response to inadequate care and provide a timeframe within which providers must improve the quality of the care they provide.
Following the assessment, we decided to take enforcement action and urgently suspended the provider’s registration on 7 July 2026 for a period of 3 months for failing to meet the regulations related to safe care and treatment and good governance.