The RAF Benevolent Fund is delighted to announce that The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has generously awarded a grant of £244,493 following another outstanding Tattoo season in August 2025.
This support follows a year in which the Tattoo delivered its largest-ever combined charitable donations, reinforcing its role as a significant contributor to military welfare and wider cultural causes across the UK.
The Fund is deeply grateful for the substantial grant, which will be dedicated to enhancing its welfare delivery throughout Scotland. As with previous funding from the Tattoo, this contribution will play a vital role in supporting members of the RAF Family facing challenges such as financial hardship or ill health.
The grant will enable the Fund to provide life-changing assistance, including immediate hardship relief and independent living support, helping beneficiaries – many of whom are elderly veterans – remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes.
Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director of Operations at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “We are incredibly thankful to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for its ongoing support and generosity.
“This significant grant will make a real difference to the lives of RAF veterans, service personnel and their families across Scotland. It ensures we can continue to stand alongside those who need us most, providing both immediate help and longer-term stability.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund has a long and valued relationship with the Tattoo, which has supported the Fund through multiple grants over many years. Previous donations have enabled vital welfare interventions, from essential home adaptations to financial assistance during illness, bereavement or unemployment.
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “2025 was a monumental year for the Tattoo, and we’re incredibly proud to see its success translated into tangible support for charitable causes, including the RAF Benevolent Fund.
“Our mission has always been to use the platform of the Tattoo to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. We’re delighted that this year’s grant will support vital welfare work across Scotland for members of the RAF Family.”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo continues to celebrate its landmark achievements, having announced in January its largest-ever charitable donation programme, totalling £1.5 million to military and arts organisations following the record-breaking success of its 2025 show, The Heroes Who Made Us.
The Tattoo is a huge immersive event held annually during August and will take place between 7-29 August 2026 with a show entitled A Call to Gather. Tickets can be purchased here.
As well as the RAF Benevolent Fund, the Tattoo also supports the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldier’s Charity, and arts charities within the UK.
One of Scotland’s oldest visitor attractions has turned Edinburgh’s Royal Mile into the ultimate aisle. From sightseeing to ‘I do’, last year the iconic location saw more than 10,000 people put a ring on it at its unique marriage machine.
This Valentine’s Day, Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is once again setting the scene for love, laughter, and unforgettable memories with its famous AutoWed Machine.
The fully automated ceremony is one of only two of its kind in the world, with the other located in the USA. Created by the innovative Cornwall-based company ConceptShed, AutoWed first captured the public’s imagination after appearing on the BBC TV show Dragons’ Den. The novelty wedding vending machine delivers a fun, tongue-in-cheek ceremony at the push of a button, with couples receiving rings and a personalised keepsake wedding certificate.
The entire AutoWed ceremony lasts around 60 seconds / minutes, making it one of the quickest ways to celebrate love in the capital city.Last year, Olympic diver Tom Daley was amongst the many visitors to take the plunge and get ‘AutoWed’ with his husband, Oscar-winning Hollywood screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.
Andrew Johson, General Manager at Camera Obscura said; “The AutoWed Machine has become one of our most-loved experiences, and it’s incredible to see just how many people choose to tie the knot here.
“This Valentine’s Day, we’re inviting even more couples to come and celebrate their love in a fun and memorable way, and we can’t wait to welcome more visitors this February.”
In addition to the AutoWed, couples can explore over 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits that challenge the senses and dazzle the mind. From bewildering optical illusions to breathtaking views of Edinburgh from the Rooftop Terrace.
Researchers say previously unidentified feature of myelin couldpave the way to new treatment options
Researchers in Edinburgh have discovered that myelin, the protective coating surrounding nerves, which is damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), could potentially repair itself instead of being lost, thanks to a newly discovered biological response.
This might offer a significant new opportunity to help slow, stop or even prevent degeneration in MS and other conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
In MS, the immune system attacks myelin in the brain and spinal cord and disrupts messages being sent around the body. This impacts how people move, think and feel. While myelin loss is a hallmark of a range of conditions, there are still no treatments that can replace damaged or lost myelin.
Until now, research has been focused on regenerating new myelin after it has already been lost. But a team from the MS Society Edinburgh Centre for Myelin Research at the University of Edinburgh, led by Professor David Lyons and supported by international collaborators, has shown that when myelin is first damaged it undergoes a dynamic swelling phase.
This can, in principle, be followed by repair, rather than myelin loss. This potentially offers a window of opportunity to intervene before the myelin completely breaks down.
Historically, although this myelin swelling had been observed, it had not been investigated in detail, as researchers thought that it might be an artefact of the way brain tissue is preserved in the lab. But this new study took advantage of advanced technology to observe live zebrafish and tissue from mice and humans who lived with MS to follow what happened to damaged myelin over time.
The team showed that this swelling is in fact a natural process in the body that can be followed by repair of the damaged myelin, and thus one that could be a critical step in the body’s fight to prevent complete myelin loss.
This suggests that the nervous system has a powerful – and until now unrecognised – ability to withstand early myelin damage.
Professor David Lyons, Co-lead of the MS Society Edinburgh Centre for MS Research, at the University of Edinburgh, says:“These findings suggest that intervening during this early swelling phase could protect myelin before it is lost, offering us the opportunity to explore potential new treatment routes that could complement current treatments.
“For decades, scientists have focused on remyelination, the process of rebuilding myelin once it is already lost. This continues to hold promise. But now that we have this new avenue of exploration, it could be the start of something else very special.”
Over 150,000 people in the UK live with MS, with 135 diagnosed each week. More than 17,000 people with MS live in Scotland. The MS Society is the largest charitable funder of MS research in the UK. Its research has helped drive forward treatment options and dramatically improved public understanding of the condition.
The University of Edinburgh is home to one of Europe’s largest groupings of neuroscience researchers investigating the nervous system in health and disease. This includes one of two MS Society-funded Centres of Excellence in MS research.
Work at the Edinburgh Centre for MS Research, co-led by Professor Lyons and Professor Anna Williams, spans investigation of fundamental biological processes relevant to MS, drug discovery to identify treatments for MS, through clinical research and supporting clinical trials in people with disease.
Dr Emma Gray, Director of Research at the MS Society, says:“We know that the body has the ability to regenerate new myelin after it’s lost. But this study shows that existing myelin can sometimes self-heal before it’s fully lost, a process we hadn’t identified before.
“It doesn’t replace current strategies, but it adds another potential way to protect myelin early on. MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable and for tens of thousands of people there are still no treatments that work for them.
“There’s still a lot to learn, but discoveries like this are essential to help people with MS in the future.”
Some of Scotland’s leading start-up tech companies will have the chance to secure orders and build contacts in New York and New Jersey under an expansion of the Techscaler International programme.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced that the Programme’s first visit to the east coast of the United States will take place this year, alongside trips to Asia and California’s Silicon Valley.
Each will involve a small number of growth-stage companies which are best placed to secure contracts, investment and commercial traction.
A full calendar of events has been developed to help business founders plan their approach to international engagement. They include:
Japan (April 2026)
New York and New Jersey (June 2026)
Silicon Valley (October 2026)
Singapore (November 2026)
Hong Kong and China (December 2026)
The Deputy First Minister announced the programme during a visit to the Edinburgh offices of Codebase, which manages the Techscaler initiative, to meet business founders who have benefitted from previous international trips.
They included Tiny Air co-founder Chris Helson, who secured orders for his company’s pioneering surgical decontamination technology following a visit to Singapore as part of the 2025 programme.
The Deputy First Minister said: “Techscaler International is about helping open doors for the enormous business talent we have in this country.
“It is always inspiring to hear how those that have taken part in the programme have seized the opportunity to capture new business and take advantage of new international connections.
“Building on the success of the first pilot programme in Silicon Valley in 2024, the initiative has been continually refined to serve the needs of our entrepreneurs and respond to their feedback. This expanded programme reflects the value it is bringing to some of the country’s most innovative companies.”
Co-Founder of Tiny Air Chris Helson said: “The Singapore opportunity was fantastic and has led to sales there- but the mentoring programmes from Techscaler have been almost more valuable. They have introduced us to world class advisors who know how to take a medtech company like us global.
“We were in Singapore for three weeks and I was still making key connections on the last day. I was introduced to a large hospital in the north of Singapore by an anaesthetist from Raigmore hospital in Inverness who now works in Singapore and whose wife is a Global Scot. Those kind of networks and connections are invaluable.”
Co-founder and Executive Vice Chair at CodeBase Steven Drost said: “Techscaler supports tech founders at every stage of their journey, with an increasing focus on scaleups and providing Scotland’s most ambitious founders with a launchpad for global success, and so it’s encouraging to see the expansion of the international programmes this year.”
The James Hutton Institute has announced the launch of Hutton Unearthed, its first public‑facing fundraising campaign aimed at accelerating research into climate resilience, sustainable farming, biodiversity recovery and environmental justice.
The campaign marks a significant shift in how the Hutton engages with the public, inviting individuals, communities and businesses to contribute directly to scientific work that supports Scotland’s land, water and natural environments.
It focuses on four key campaign themes: Land, Water, Food and Energy. From the Climate Positive Farming Initiative and HydroGlen green energy initiative at Glensaugh Research Farm to the blueberry breeding at Invergowrie campus and peatland monitoring across Scotland, these themes are central to the Hutton’s ground-breaking research and innovation.
The launch follows the publication of an independent economic impact report, which found that the Hutton generates £15 of economic value for every £1 invested – highlighting the scale of benefit that additional support could unlock for both Scotland and the wider UK.
Addressing urgent environmental challenges
Through Hutton Unearthed, the Institute aims to expand research into:
safeguarding soils and water resources
restoring biodiversity
developing sustainable and resilient farming systems
responding to climate‑driven risks to landscapes and communities
advancing forensic science applications that support public protection
These areas represent some of the most pressing environmental and societal challenges facing Scotland today.
A call for collective action
Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of The James Hutton Institute, said, “People trust Hutton science. The greatest gift to science is independence: the freedom to think boldly and to innovate and focus on where we can make the biggest difference.
“Through the James Hutton Unearthed campaign, we can build on that independence – ensuring our researchers have the stability and support they need to tackle the urgent challenges facing our land, food, water and energy.”
Support for the campaign can take the form of individual donations, one‑off contributions from organisations, sponsorship or longer‑term strategic partnerships. All contributions will go directly toward expanding scientific research with measurable community, environmental and economic benefit.
Campaign launch event
The campaign was introduced at a Burns Supper event featuring bestselling crime author Ian Rankin and the Hutton’s Head of Soil Forensics, Professor Dame Lorna Dawson. The two discussed their long‑standing collaboration and the growing importance of forensic soil science in criminal investigations.
Ian Rankin said, “I was delighted to attend a dinner to celebrate the launch of James Hutton Unearthed in Edinburgh and to have the opportunity to reconnect with Lorna, who I’d consulted with for In A House of Lies.
“The character of Professor Lee Ann Inglis – a soil forensics expert – was based on my conversations with Lorna, so getting the science right was important!
“The James Hutton Institute plays such a key role in modern science, not just soil analysis but responding to the major environmental challenges of our age. The new campaign will help raise much needed funding for this important work.”
Professor Dawson said, “Being able to link objects or people to places – including crime scenes, wildlife crime, illegal mining, conflict minerals and the trade in fossils – is essential for a fair and just society.
“Investment in forensic soil science strengthens our ability to protect people, communities and the environment.”
Fortunately, most of us don’t have to climb a hill to brush our teeth in the morning. But that’s exactly what Bishop Brian McGee did to raise awareness of communities around the world in need of clean water.
Bishop Brian is SCIAF’s Bishop President and cares deeply about poverty and injustice around the world.
Bishop Brian said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?
“This year our WEE BOX Appeal focusses on just that. In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.
“Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce. In Ethiopia far too many women, girls and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and in some places taking their lives in their hands just to reach water.
“Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a tonne and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water.
“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this.”
Lent is 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer leading up to Easter. Each year generous Scots up and down the country give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine or crisps during Lent and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.
Supporters also hold fundraising events in their schools and parishes and take on personal challenges to raise money. They then donate whatever they raise at Easter to provide a hand-up to vulnerable communities worldwide, struggling to survive due to hunger, poverty, conflict and the climate emergency.
Bishop Brian added: “I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the transformational work that our amazing SCIAF supporters are funding in Ethiopia. It is genuinely changing lives.
“Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.
“We know that there are still so many more people suffering in Ethiopia and across the world from extreme poverty. With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face.”
This Lent, please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.
Revamped Easter Saturday meeting now exceeds £300,000 prize money
Musselburgh Racecourse has strengthened its position as a leading Flat racing venue with the introduction of the Virgin Bet £80,000 Listed Goliath Cup, a new Class 1 contest to be staged on Easter Saturday. (4 April)
Run over one mile six furlongs for four-year-olds and upwards under weight-for-age conditions, the Goliath Cup becomes the second Class 1 flat race on Musselburgh’s annual fixture list and a new centrepiece of its most important Flat meeting of the year.
The race transfers to Musselburgh following its previous incarnation as the Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham and the East Lothian course has boosted the Listed minimum prize money by £20,000 to £80,000 – underlining the racecourse’s long-term ambition to attract and retain high-quality Flat racing.
The former Queen’s Cup, previously an open £100,000 Class 2 handicap, will now run as a £50,000 Class 3 handicap, (open to horses rated up to 97) creating a clearer distinction between elite horses and handicappers and broadening the opportunities across the card for stayers.
The Easter Saturday meeting also includes the Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup, an open Class 2 handicap over five furlongs – with prize money increased from £50,000 to £70,000. The Class 2 Silver Arrow Handicap over 7 furlongs, for older horses rated 0-105 will be run for £50,000, and the Royal Mile Handicap (8 furlongs) for 3yos only rated 76-95 will be run for £30,000 – taking total prize money on the day to more than £300,000.
The addition of the Goliath Cup provides trainers with a valuable early-season Listed opportunity for stayers at the beginning of the turf flat racing season. The new race reinforces Musselburgh’s growing reputation as a venue capable of hosting Class 1 Flat racing, while anchoring Easter Saturday as a nationally relevant fixture.
With black-type on offer and a strong ITV Racing platform, the race is expected to appeal to yards with upwardly-mobile stayers looking to build a campaign around premium middle-distance and staying races through the season.
Musselburgh Racecourse Director Bill Farnsworth said: “This is a very significant upgrade for Musselburgh and for Easter Saturday, with the Goliath Cup giving us a Listed staying race on a major ITV Racing day, which is exactly where a contest of this quality belongs.
“It’s good for the racecourse, it’s good for the programme, and most importantly it’s good for trainers and owners who now have a valuable early-season target offering European Pattern black-type and meaningful prizemoney.”
The race’s position on Easter Saturday places it neatly between Doncaster’s Lincoln Handicap opening weekend and the spring Classic trials period, offering a stepping-stone for horses with higher-level ambitions.
The introduction of the Goliath Cup has allowed Musselburgh to rebalance its Easter Saturday card to greater effect. Rather than concentrating prizemoney in a single race, the fixture now offers £130,000 across two feature staying races, providing better opportunities across the ratings spectrum.
“The Listed race gives us quality and profile, the Queen’s Cup handicap gives us depth and competitiveness, and together they make the whole card stronger.” added Farnsworth.
Ruth Quinn, Director of International Racing and Development at the British Horseracing Authority said: “The British Horseracing Authority and Flat Pattern Committee are delighted that Musselburgh racecourse has stepped in to host the Listed race formally known as the Further Flight Stakes from 2026.
“This 14-furlong race for four-year-olds and upwards is an important stepping stone into the Flat season for Pattern-class staying horses. The Flat Pattern Committee was committed to finding a new venue for the race once it became clear that staging the race at Nottingham racecourse was no longer a viable option.
“We hope that the newly named Goliath Cup will be a great addition to the Musselburgh Easter Saturday fixture, and we wish it every success.”
The changes have also helped secure expanded ITV Racing coverage, with five races broadcast live from Musselburgh on the day.
The Scottish Government has launched a new five‑week public awareness campaign encouraging boys and young men to think before sharing or engaging with misogynistic content online.
The campaign highlights the real‑life harm such content causes to women and girls, including those known to them. The campaign was developed with the support of a steering group of VAWG experts and cocreated with young people.
The campaign includes tailored messages for young people across Instagram, Snapchat, Twitch and YouTube, and resources for parents to understand the scale and impact of online misogyny and support conversations at home.
COSLA welcomes this campaign as a concrete expression of our shared commitment with the Scottish Government to challenge the attitudes and systems that enable misogyny and wider gender‑based violence.
The campaign aligns with Equally Safe’s focus on engaging men and boys as allies in preventing violence against women and girls and helping shift harmful online and offline attitudes.
COSLA’s Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Cllr Maureen Chalmers, welcomed the new national campaign tackling online misogyny, commenting: “Young people deserve to be safe online and offline.
“By amplifying these messages locally Local Government plays a vital role in preventing harm, challenging harmful attitudes and supporting Equally Safe communities.”
All assets, including links to information supporting healthy conversations with young people and links to videos and other supporting materials can be accessed here: Tackling Misogyny Campaign Toolkit
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is calling for voluntary organisations and the people who work and volunteer in Scotland’s voluntary sector to apply for its annual Scottish Charity Awards.
Now in its 20th year, the Scottish Charity Awards are designed to celebrate the best of the voluntary sector, and to highlight the incredible organisations, inspiring people and innovative projects that have made an immeasurable difference to the communities they support over the past year.
Applications are now being accepted for 2026, with SCVO placing particular importance on hearing from voluntary organisations and people that reflect the diversity of Scotland’s essential voluntary sector.
All registered charities, social enterprises, campaigning groups, community interest companies and people who work and volunteer in these spaces are eligible to enter.
Last year saw the success of attempts to make the awards simpler and more accessible to as many people and organisations as possible.
There are nine award categories at the Scottish Charity Awards. Six recognise the achievements of organisations, and three recognise individuals.
The award categories are Small Charity of the Year (turnover under £100k), Medium Charity of the Year (turnover £100-500k), Large Charity of the Year (turnover over £500k), Trustee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Employee of the Year, Partnership of the Year, Campaign of the Year, and Climate Impact; with the winners to be decided by a panel of judges. For 2026 organisations can only make one application across all categories.
SCVO received an overwhelming response last year with hundreds of applications, and hopes that even more organisations will be inspired to apply this year.
This year, SCVO will be bringing its celebratory awards ceremony, hosted by Sally Magnusson, to Glasgow’s Radisson Blu on 11 June.
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “Each year, the Scottish Charity Awards stand out as a real highlight for me.
“Across Scotland – and far beyond – voluntary organisations are transforming lives in countless ways, and it’s impossible not to be moved by both the scale of their impact and the diversity of their work.
“Past finalists and winners often share how meaningful it is to receive recognition on a national stage. We also take care each year to refine and refresh the awards, ensuring they remain timely and relevant.
“Whether you’re a small grassroots group powered entirely by volunteers, a large national charity, or anything in between, there’s a place for you. Don’t hold back — put forward a nomination or submit an entry for this year’s awards.”
Applications are open until 12 noon on Tuesday, 17 March 2025 and can be completed on the SCVO website: scvo.scot/scottish-charity-awards/apply.
‘High harm’ procedures such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL) should be banned immediately without further consultation, a new report published today by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has recommended.
The Westminster Government is ‘not moving quickly enough’ in introducing a licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures and ‘should accelerate regulatory action’ MPs said, cautioning ‘this lack of timely action is fostering complacency in self-regulation’ within the industry.
The report warned of a ‘wild west’ in which procedures have reportedly taken place in Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds and public toilets. Individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially harmful interventions, placing the public at risk, MPs concluded.
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures
Liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations – procedures deemed high risk and which have already been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety – should be restricted to appropriately qualified medical professionals immediately, the report recommended. Given the lack of appetite among medical professionals to carry out these procedures, this will act as a de facto ban in all but the most essential cases, it said.
A licensing system for ‘green’ and ‘amber’ lower risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures, in which only those suitably qualified can perform them, should be introduced within this Parliament, WEC recommended.
Currently, there is no regulation as to who can perform procedures that do not require incisions and are commonly used to refer to injectables, such as Botox or dermal fillers, laser therapy or chemical peels. What rules that that do exist, such as on the prescription of Botox, are being circumvented, are under enforced and under policed.
The absence of a legislative framework for training and qualifications in the non-surgical cosmetic sector has resulted in significant variability in standards, with justified concerns about short courses, online training, and the ease of entry into practice, the report warned.
The Government, it said, should bring forward consistent, enforceable standards for the non-surgical cosmetic sector that prioritise patient safety and competency, while ensuring training routes remain accessible and affordable for a predominantly female-led workforce.
The Government should work with the devolved administrations to ensure regulatory alignment across all UK nations on legislation governing non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Cosmetic tourism
The increasing number of cases requiring medical treatment after cosmetic surgery abroad raises serious concerns for patient safety and places additional financial strain on the NHS, the report said.
It called on the Government to review the need for the NHS to systematically record data on complications arising from cosmetic procedures performed abroad. Publishing such data annually, it said, would enable a comprehensive assessment of the financial impact on the NHS and provide robust evidence to better inform and educate the public about the risks associated with cosmetic tourism. The data could include details of the clinic or practitioner that performed the original procedure to help further protect UK nationals.
Ministers should assess whether outlets in the UK that are recruiting patients for medical treatment overseas should be brought into a regulatory regime and be subject to investigation and, where necessary, sanction, the report added.
Body image
WEC’s report warned of a ‘gap in safeguarding mental health’ in the cosmetic procedures sector. It recommended training curricula required to obtain a licence to perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures should include mandatory modules on informed consent and psychological screening, with a specific focus on identifying Body Dysmorphic Disorder and other vulnerabilities.
Social media platforms and face-editing technologies are contributing to worsening body image and increasing demand for cosmetic procedures, particularly among young women and girls, the report concluded. The normalisation of high-risk procedures by online influencers and the shaping of beauty standards by algorithms which bombard users with posts on body image are particular concerns.
It is clear that social media platforms must take more responsibility for the content they promote, the report said, adding in response to the alarming increase in desire for cosmetic surgery among teenagers, the Department of Health and Social Care should work with the Department for Education to integrate evidence-based body image and social media literacy programmes into school curricula, including content on risks of cosmetic procedures.
Breast implants
The PIP implant scandal exposed failures that continue to affect women more than a decade later, the report said, recommending the NHS should remove PIP implants from women who wish to have them explanted.
Shortcomings on data collection and recording mean that the NHS does not know who received PIP implants and many women may not be aware they have them. The need for further research and improved data collection on implantation must be addressed, it added.
WEC called on the Government to introduce mandatory recording of breast implant and explant procedures and instances of adverse outcomes in the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry by the end of 2026. Data on adverse outcomes by implant type should be published annually to support informed consent and improve patient safety, the report recommended.
A mandatory cooling-off period of at least two weeks should be introduced between the initial consultation and surgery for breast implants, ensuring patients have sufficient time to consider risks and alternatives before making a commitment. The new post-surveillance regime for breast implants must include regular testing of approved implants to ensure continued compliance with safety standards, it added.
The Committee’s report called on the Government to commission research to better understand the health impacts of breast implants, including their potential impacts on women with pre-existing auto-immune conditions.
The research needs to be a mix of clinical research, including on the health impacts of siloxanes, and longitudinal, following a cohort of women over a period of time. Such studies are necessary to improve patient safety, diagnosis and treatment and for the purposes of informed consent, it said.
The Government should also require all practitioners performing invasive surgical cosmetic procedures to have specialist training and hold appropriate board certification in the procedures they undertake.
Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen said: “Procedures that are deemed high risk such as liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations, which have already been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety, should be banned immediately.
“There is no need for further consultation and delay. A licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures should be introduced within this Parliament.
“The Government is not moving quickly enough in introducing a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures and should accelerate regulatory action. Currently, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially very harmful interventions and often do so in unsafe environments. This ‘wild west’ of procedures is placing the public at risk.
“Regulation has not kept pace with the sector’s expansion. In 2013, the head of the NHS warned that a person having a non-surgical cosmetic intervention has no more protection than someone buying a toothbrush. Over a decade later the only thing that has changed is the number of people suffering life changing and life-threatening injuries.
“During our inquiry, the Committee heard a powerful and shocking testimony from a woman who developed sepsis after having a liquid BBL. Her experience and those of many others should act as an urgent wake-up call to Government for change.
“With the concerning rise in cosmetic tourism, there is a strong case for the NHS to systematically record data on complications arising from such procedures performed abroad. Publishing this data annually would enable a comprehensive assessment of the financial strain on the NHS and help raise awareness about the risks.
“Ministers should learn the lessons of the PIP breast implant scandal, and introduce mandatory recording of breast implant and explant procedures and instances of adverse outcomes and commission research to better understand the health impacts of breast implants so that women seeking this surgery can truly give informed consent.”
