Nurses have played a central role in the growth and development of aesthetic medicine in the UK, helping to position us as a global leader in the field.
Our annual survey confirms that nurses remain the largest group in the aesthetic sector, making up 43.5% of respondents, followed by doctors (22.5%) and dentists (13.1%).
From setting benchmarks for clinical practice to advocating for patient safety, aesthetic nurses in the UK have been a driving force for standards and a leading voice for regulatory change via the British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN).
As injectable treatments, such as botulinum toxin, are staple treatments in aesthetic clinics, many nurses practising aesthetics choose to undertake additional training to become an independent prescriber. This gives nurses the autonomy to assess, diagnose, and prescribe for their patients directly and is obtained by undertaking a V300 Prescribing Course. The V300 course is offered by many universities and is open to both NHS and privately funded nurses. Before enrolling, you must have at least one year of experience in the area in which you wish to prescribe, and you will need to arrange a Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) to support you throughout the course.
On its website, BAMAN, which Hamilton Fraser has partnered with since 2012, says: “We strongly encourage our members to pursue the V300 Non-Medical Prescribing qualification (Level 6 or 7), which allows practitioners to become independent prescribers. This qualification equips nurses with the skills and legal authority to prescribe medications, including in aesthetic practice, significantly enhancing their professional capability.”
In 2025, we have seen a lot happening in the world of aesthetic nursing from a regulatory and standards POV, especially when it comes to prescribing.
Most significantly, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) updated its position around remote prescribing for cosmetic procedures, banning the practice and requiring nurses to carry out face-to-face consultations. This came into effect on 1 June, 2025, following increased scrutiny around patient safety in aesthetic settings, particularly involving botulinum toxin.
The new guidance now makes it clear that remote prescribing is not appropriate for injectable cosmetic treatments, aligning with General Medical Council (GMC) expectations. This means:
For clinics that had previously relied on video or telephone assessments, this marks a significant operational shift — and reinforces the need for robust protocols and clear documentation. While many believe the changes will have had a positive impact on reducing the number of lay injectors obtaining POMs via remote prescribing relationships, the sudden ban has undoubtedly had an impact on many nurses and required an abrupt shift in their business model.
Speaking about the changes to Eddie Hooker and Vicky Eldridge on a recent episode of the Hamilton Fraser Aesthetic Business cast, Andrew Rankin said, “
“The problems that we've seen from remote prescribing have been profound. The activity was prevalent across much of the cosmetic sector and the problems that arise from it, sometimes directly in terms of patient safety, sometimes indirectly in terms of illegal activity have been very difficult to enforce.
“We have seen situations where the quantities of medicines that people have been prescribed have been well beyond the sort of things that people should have been receiving. They've been using these [products] as stock medicines, almost to enable them to illegally give the medicines to another named patient.
“The standard of consultation has been entirely inadequate, because that first consultation hasn't happened from the prescriber.
“The industry is in some senses robustly regulated, and I think it's worth thinking about the supply of a medicine from its origin with the manufacturer, along with a supply chain, and that supply chain is there to protect patient safety, and it is robust, but anytime it breaks is a very real concern.
“We have to look at that supply chain along its full length from the manufacturer, being a regulated manufacturer supplying medicines that are approved by the MHRA for use in England, through regulated pharmacies that have their own set of standards supplying to regulated professionals. And those regulated professionals abiding by their standards for patient safety. And when that chain is solid, it really does work, but it is disconcerting, frustrating and disappointing to see things breaking down at that last stage with regulated healthcare professionals.
“Regulated professionals are responsible and accountable, and there are questions to be asked and answers to be had. By the time the point of prescription is about to be made, the prescriber needs to have a thorough understanding of the client; they need to be able to mitigate the risks associated with that prescription, and they need if they don't administer it themselves, they need to delegate the administration to another individual. And they remain accountable.”
There is also growing momentum around enabling nurses to legally hold prescription stock, a privilege currently limited in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Recent court cases, such as that of Nichola Hawes in Northern Ireland, have highlighted the issue.
Hawes was fined £8,000 at Downpatrick Crown Court after unlawfully supplying botulinum toxin and other prescription-only medicines (POMs) without the required pharmacist oversight. She came to the attention of the Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG), part of the Northern Ireland Government’s Department of Health, in November 2022, following a report from a former patient who received unsolicited medication in their name.
Following an investigation, the MRG seized several quantities of POMs from the nurse’s residence, including weight-loss pens, hydroxocobalamin and hyaluronidase. The nurse’s actions were deemed a breach of legal protocols designed to safeguard patient safety, particularly concerning the administration of high-risk injectable treatment.
In Northern Ireland, as in England and Wales, independent nurse prescribers are prohibited from holding stock, including emergency drugs. Instead, they must secure prescriptions for each individual patient on a named patient basis when required.
In a statement, BAMAN said, “BAMAN is actively seeking legal advice to understand the wider implications of this case. Important work is still continuing on a campaign to address the issue of nurse prescribers being unable to hold medicines in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. We understand the serious concerns this case has raised across our profession.
“BAMAN remains committed to working constructively with the NMC, government, and other organisations to secure prescribing parity and ensure fair, transparent guidance for all nurse prescribers.”
Calls have previously been made for reform of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, on the grounds that the current legislation is outdated and not only hampers clinical autonomy but may compromise continuity of care. In a release, BAMAN said: “This legislative barrier for nurses unquestionably discriminates against nurses working in private practice, restricting their ability to operate independently, whilst doctors and dentists face no such impositions or restrictions on independent practice. The lack of regulatory consistency raises serious questions about bias in the absence of fairness in the case of nurses and the government’s failure to support highly trained, competent nurse prescribers is evidence of discrimination against nurses who are responsible for and experts in the care of patients.”
Scotland recognised the need for reform of the law by allowing independent nurse prescribers to hold medicines stock within regulated clinical governance frameworks. Nurses are now calling on the government and regulatory bodies to:
A recent poll on social media by Harley Academy asking whether or not nurses should be allowed to hold stock received 200 comments, the majority of which were in favour.
For more, read our guide to Getting started in aesthetics for nurses and listen to our podcast Voices of aesthetic nursing – the leaders of BAMAN.
BAMAN offers some great advice on training for nurses that you can read here. You can also read our guide to training and CPD in aesthetics here.
As regulation continues to evolve, it’s essential for aesthetic nurses to stay informed and supported. From legislative change to training opportunities, the future of nurse prescribing will shape the safety and autonomy of the profession.
Hamilton Fraser is proud to continue its long-standing collaboration with BAMAN as we head back to the Autumn Aesthetic Conference 2025. Scheduled for Thursday, 18 September, and Friday, 19 September, at The Eastside Rooms, Woodcock Street, Birmingham, this event remains a highlight of the aesthetics calendar. Featuring an extensive agenda of clinical updates, expert presentations, and complication case reviews, the conference provides an exceptional platform for practitioners to enhance their expertise, connect with colleagues, and engage with influential voices shaping the future of aesthetics in the UK. Read more here.
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