A TRAINING school for cosmetic treatments including Botox has refused to comment on vetting procedures after it emerged a woman falsely claimed to be a nurse to attend a course.

Lawyers in Glasgow say they are pursuing a mass litigation claim on behalf of women who say they received botched treatments from Alison McQuade at the Dash salon in Partick.

It is alleged that Ms McQuade attended a course in aesthetic procedures which is intended for nurses, doctors and dentists at the Face Academy, also known as Face UK and run at the Berkeley Clinic.

The case has reinforced calls for tougher regulation of the industry, which is worth an estimated £3.6 billion in the UK.

While Botox must be administered by a health professional, in the case of dermal fillers, the treatments are almost entirely unregulated.

The Scottish Government has said it is intends to regulate to ensure “all procedures” meets similar standards and is currently gathering data. Experts are calling for a ban on non-medics performing injectable procedures.

The Evening Times went to the address listed for the Face Academy, at 5 Newton Place, and asked what checks are carried out to ensure course applicants are health professionals.

A spokeswoman said she would refer our questions onto the resident doctor, understood to be Dr Andrew Culbard, but added: “As far as I’m aware there is no comment.”

It is understood the academy rents out a room at that address for training.

Another training school, Inspired Cosmetic Training in Glasgow say course applicants are strictly vetted.

A spokeswoman said: “We take their details and we will check the GMC or NMC.”

The Facebook page for Ms McQuade’s salon has been taken down.

Patrick McGuire a partner from Thompsons Solicitors is pursuing a legal claim against the salon.

He said “Since the Evening Times first reported on what’s being going on at the salon we received a huge number of calls.

“It now looks as if we’ll be pursuing a mass litigation legal action against the owner.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Cosmetic procedures such as these and which carried out by a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or dental technician are already regulated and regularly reviewed.

“We intend to regulate procedures carried out by non-healthcare professionals, for example at beauty salons, to ensure they meet similar standards to those in place for healthcare professionals.

“We are currently consulting with the profession and regulatory bodies on how this can be done.”