Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2026 [Draft]
Non-surgical procedures have become increasingly popular, but regulation has not kept pace with what is a growing industry. Many people who undergo such procedures are happy with the results and there are many responsible practitioners operating in the medical and beauty parts of the sector. Many people value those procedures; the bill is not about restricting access to them or judging anyone who receives them.
However, I have heard a number of powerful accounts of such procedures going wrong, including the account of the tragic death in England of a young mother. I am grateful to those who have brought the stories to my attention, including many MSPs who have campaigned on the issue. I present the bill in my capacity as minister for public health. However, as minister for women’s health, I am conscious that those stories of harm have predominantly affected women. We must act to minimise the risks of future harms to anyone who receives such procedures.
I welcome the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s constructive and thoughtful report and have given a lot of consideration to its proposals. I am grateful to the members across the chamber who have engaged with me for some time and who have arranged round tables to ensure that a wide range of voices have been heard.