Clients of a beauty clinic in Sydney are being advised to undergo blood tests after health authorities raised alarms about potential exposure to serious blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) issued this warning due to significant breaches in safe practice protocols by an unregistered practitioner at the Ketthip Beauty Clinic, located on Sussex Street.
Dr Vicky Sheppeard, director of the public health unit, urged anyone who had received infusions, injections, or invasive treatments such as microdermabrasion or thread lifts to arrange for testing with their healthcare provider promptly. She described the clinic as a worrying example of the risks posed by unregistered providers administering unsafe treatments.
Concerns about unsafe practices were raised by staff members of the clinic, prompting an investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC). During an inspection conducted on 27 February, it was confirmed that several procedures were not lawfully performed, increasing the risk of infection among clients.
The HCCC uncovered evidence suggesting that unregistered individuals at the clinic may have impersonated licensed health professionals, engaging in invasive surgical procedures like breast augmentations without proper oversight. Reports indicate at least one individual experienced an adverse reaction to these treatments.
Further investigations revealed the clinic used equipment designated solely for veterinary purposes, raising immediate safety concerns relating to sterilisation and infection control. Additionally, some medications being administered were found to be expired and imported from overseas.
In response to these alarming findings, the HCCC issued an interim prohibition order, suspending all health services, including cosmetic procedures, at the clinic for eight weeks as investigations continue.
The clinic’s website has been taken offline for maintenance, and its contact number has been disconnected. Individuals seeking cosmetic procedures are reminded to verify the registration status of their practitioners through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website. Dr Sheppeard stressed the importance of ensuring that aesthetic procedures are only performed by registered health providers, advising against allowing unregistered individuals to administer injections or perform treatments.
For further assistance, the HCCC encourages those who have concerns about their care to reach out via prohibitionorders@hccc.nsw.gov.au, while NSW Health has also provided a contact line at 1300 066 055 for inquiries about potential infection risks associated with the clinic.