The public face of licensing in England: a focus on the consumer

I would like to begin with reflecting and looking back. However, I believe we will not be doing too much of that once the licensing scheme is established. Let me introduce myself: my name is Dawn Knight, and since I had a cosmetic procedure that did not go to plan in 2012, I have been campaigning for better patient protection and changes in legislation in the UK cosmetic and aesthetic sectors since then.

The realisation of how little protection actually exists for members of the public who are in a similar (or worse) position than I was provided all the inspiration, drive and determination that I needed. Remember the 2013 Keogh report, which produced multiple recommendations that sought to improve and protect members of the public who undertake medical cosmetic procedures. However, since that time, successive Governments have lacked the appetite required to tackle the burgeoning challenges associated with the ever-growing cosmetic surgery and non-surgical aesthetics sector in the UK. At the time, I recall the cries that the Keogh report ‘was the taking of the lid off Pandora's box’, and how bad things might become before assertive action was taken to protect members of the public from procedures undertaken by unregulated, untrained and inexperienced practitioners. I would advise anyone to go back and review Keogh's findings and recommendations. I did just that in preparation for this article, and I was shocked to see that much of what was predicted at that time is so very evident today. Thank you to all those that contributed to the Keogh report (2013), you were right, and, sadly, your predictions have materialised. So, now is the time for change.