NMC Bans Remote Prescribing for Elective Non-surgical Cosmetic Treatments

The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) is pleased to share a significant policy update from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which will affect prescribing practices within the aesthetics sector. From 1 June 2025, nurse and midwife prescribers will be required to conduct face-to-face consultations before issuing prescriptions for elective non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including certain anti-wrinkle injections and items in aesthetic emergency kits.

This decision represents a vital step in improving patient safety and bringing consistency to the regulation of cosmetic practice. The NMC has acknowledged that remote prescribing for aesthetic treatments can carry significant risks. By requiring in-person assessments, this updated guidance better aligns with other healthcare regulators and reinforces safe prescribing standards across the board.

The JCCP has long urged the UK Government and statutory regulators to prohibit remote prescribing in these contexts, highlighting the potential dangers to patient welfare. In 2022, the JCCP and the Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA) released guidance that clearly opposed the remote prescribing of any injectable prescription medicines or medical devices for non-surgical cosmetic use. This includes, but is not limited to, botulinum toxin, injectable local anaesthetics, dermal fillers, hyaluronidase, tissue stimulants, lipolysis agents, and vitamin injections.

Prescribers are reminded that they must not issue such prescriptions via telephone, video call, online platforms, or third-party requests without conducting an in-person consultation. The prescriber remains responsible for the patient’s care, even when procedures are delegated, and must follow all applicable MHRA regulations and regulatory body guidance.

The NMC’s stance aligns with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Prescribing Competency Framework and the High-level principles for good practice in remote consultations and prescribing. Both stress the importance of comprehensive clinical assessments and prioritising patient safety in all prescribing decisions.

The JCCP further emphasises that these assessments must take place face-to-face and include consideration of the patient’s physical condition, psychological wellbeing, and expectations.

Crucially, an initial in-person consultation is not sufficient to cover all future prescribing decisions. Ongoing treatment must include regular review and shared decision-making. A follow-up face-to-face consultation is required, at a minimum, when:

• A new medicine is introduced
• The dosage of an existing prescription is changed
• The patient’s medical history is updated
• An adverse incident has occurred
• More than six months have passed since the last consultation

If a prescriber considers issuing a repeat prescription without a further in-person consultation, they must ensure that none of the above conditions apply and that appropriate systems are in place to evaluate the patient’s current status.

The JCCP is a registered UK charity focused on promoting patient safety in the cosmetic sector. As the lead body overseeing the Health Education England (HEE) qualifications framework for aesthetics, the JCCP collaborates with professional regulators, membership bodies, and key stakeholders to raise standards and ensure regulatory consistency.

To stay informed about regulatory updates, professional standards, and developments in the aesthetics sector, we encourage all practitioners to register with the JCCP.

To read the full JCCP press release, visit: www.jccp.org.uk/NewsEvent/nmc-launches-updated-guidance-that-embargos-remote-prescribing-for-elective-non-surgical-cosmetic-procedures