Picture this: You head to work excited for a busy day of back-to-back patients. The clinic is alive with activity, and you’ve just performed one of your favourite procedures.
Then it happens - a single phone call that shatters the normalcy. An abrupt legislative change crashes down, signalling an immediate halt to your clinic. Your scripting company abandons you, refusing to return your calls and emails for support, leaving you grappling with the uncertainty that lies ahead. Sounds like your worst nightmare, doesn't it?
This was the reality faced by nurses operating in Tasmania, only two weeks before Christmas.
Newly introduced changes brought private practicing cosmetic nurses under strict scrutiny from the Department of Health (TAS), enforcing a thorough examination of professional practice, especially concerning cosmetic injectables.
This legislation meant that for cosmetic nurses in Tasmania to continue their private practice, they had to be authorised by the pharmaceutical Minister of Health with a section 25A of the Poisons Act - proof of capability to receive, store, and use S4 medications. This ultimately required clinics to be licensed and operate as day-procedure clinics - meaning buildings had to be re-fitted, policies revised, and new documentation assembled to meet the strict new compliance criteria.
Despite these changes, Fresh Clinics rose to the challenge and helped create a legislative framework, which, after some back-and-forth discussions, was finally approved by the Department of Health in April 2023.
However, by the end of 2023, most insurance companies decided not to insure any cosmetic nurses without a section 25. We were forced to halt the supply of S4 medications to our clinics in Tasmania, and our Nurses had to stop treating patients immediately. A massive blow for our nurses, caught off-guard and left hanging with their livelihoods at stake.
The impact: Nicola's story
We spoke with our Head of Compliance, Jo, and Nicola, a Fresh Clinics member and Tasmanian nurse impacted by these changes, to bring you some truthful insights into the challenges fellow Tasmanian nurses encountered, and are still facing today.
Nicola Paine, owner of Laser Lab and Beauty in Hobart, shared her journey navigating these changes. "When we first heard about the legislation, everything seemed blurred and grey. We weren't really given a lot of straight answers," Nicola started, reflecting on the ordeal. "One day, another nurse and I received a letter from AHPRA, questioning our practices according to the local legislation."
Despite unwavering support from Fresh Clinics, her journey was not short of a struggle. Nicola recalled the devastating moment of receiving the call from Jo. “I could just tell by the tone of her voice that it wasn't going to be good news. She told me that I had basically until tomorrow to find somewhere to be compliant, or I'd have to stop practicing. I was absolutely devastated."
Even in the ordeal she faced, Nicola couldn’t hide her gratitude. "If it wasn't for Fresh Clinics, we would all probably be in a very different place right now… they were always there during the most difficult times, supporting, advising, and even lending a shoulder to cry on.”
Throughout this journey, our Tasmanian community demonstrated an inspiring example of determination in the face of uncertainty. Nicola’s story offers hope to other nurses across the country, especially those who might be worried about future legislative changes. It’s a timely reminder for nurses to actively seek and understand the distinct requirements of their local Department of Health and maintain a proactive approach toward compliance.
Nicola was the first of many Tasmanian nurses Fresh Clinics has supported to become compliant in the last month. Now that the process and infrastructure has proven successful, the focus now turns on revitalising the business of other Tasmanian clinics. Fresh Clinics remains, to this day, the sole provider in Tasmania with the processes, systems, and team in place to support cosmetic nurses in ensuring and maintaining their compliance.
Not a Fresh Clinics member yet? Reach out to our team today, call us, or schedule a time to chat below to discuss how to become a Fresh Clinics member and take advantage of Fresh initiatives today.