Clinic was a health risk; CHELMSLEY WOOD: Acupuncture centre rapped.

Byline: By Leda Reynolds

PATIENTS who underwent acupuncture at a Solihull clinic jeopardised their health because there were no hand-washing facilities for the medical staff.

A swoop by Solihull Council on ZGH Herbal Centre found there was no opportunity for the acupuncturist to cleanse his hands - putting patients at risk of contracting infectious diseases.

Officers also found the clinic did not have a licence to carry out acupuncture, where long needles are inserted into various parts of the body.

And at Solihull Magistrates' Court, the clinic's owner Rongli Cao and her manager Xiao Ning Zhang, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws.

The Homer Road court heard that Cao set up the business at In-Shops, Greenwood Way, Chelmsley Wood, offering herbal medicines and acupuncture, but failed to provide any hand-washing facilities, placing both staff and customers at risk from infection.

The court was told she took little interest in the business, living in Scotland and relying on Zhang to manage it.

Council officers told magistrates the business was not registered to carry out acupuncture and when council officials challenged Zhang about this service being advertised, he denied it was taking place.

However, an investigation revealed acupuncture was still being offered and a prohibition notice was served on both Cao and Zhang to stop carrying out treatments until they met the council's skin piercing bye-law requirements and supplied washing facilities. The court heard that Zhang acquired a Teal unit for hand washing, despite being told that it would not comply with the bye-law.

Appearing before the court, Zhang pleaded guilty to breaching a prohibition notice requiring him to provide hand-washing facilities, with hot and cold water, and the requirement of the premises and person to be registered with the council to provide acupuncture.

He was fined a total of pounds 650 and ordered to pay pounds 150 costs. Cao was fined a total of pounds 600 and ordered to pay pounds 150 costs for putting her employees and customers at risk by not having adequate hand-washing facilities and failing to provide information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure compliance with health and safety. The business closed in June 2005 after being open for almost a year.