The NHS has urged Superdrug to screen customers before providing Botox and fillers to protect vulnerable people.

The retailer announced last month that it would offer the anti-wrinkle and skin rejuvenation treatments on the high street to those over the age of 25.

Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, has called for reassurances the service is "clinically sound and medically responsible".

In a letter to Superdrug, he said staff must be trained to check for people with body image disorder or "unrealistic expectations" about the procedures "in the interests of protecting potentially vulnerable members of the public".

The Skin Renew Service, which has launched in Superdrug's London Strand store before being rolled out nationwide, is only available following a phone booking and consultation with a qualified nurse.

Read more: Christopher Rennie and Anthony Wright jailed for Renfrew teen kidnap

The procedures start at £99 and are carried out in a private consultation room.

In a letter to Peter Macnab, chief executive of Superdrug's parent company A.S. Watson health and beauty UK, Professor Powis said the treatments could pose a risk to patients.

"I understand that your company is set to offer cosmetic non-surgical procedures in your high street outlets," he wrote.

"These interventions are invasive procedures and may be accompanied by serious risks.

"They should be offered only in situations where they are accompanied by a robust level of clinical governance, and they should be provided only by trained professionals with a full understanding of the implications and risks involved."

Professor Powis requested details of the training and qualifications of the staff who will carry out the procedures and reassurances that clinicians and patients will be aware of possible complications.

Read more: Christopher Rennie and Anthony Wright jailed for Renfrew teen kidnap

Superdrug has also been asked to confirm it has adopted the professional standards for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Professor Powis said: "While I expect that all appropriate safeguards are in place for your service, you will know that the unchecked proliferation of providers offering cosmetic procedures introduces a risk to patient safety, unless strong and vigilant clinical risk assessments are established."

A spokeswoman for Superdrug said: "Having reviewed the letter from Professor Stephen Powis we will be providing him with the full details on the qualifications of our practitioner and the processes we have in place to ensure the very highest standards of care and patient safety.

"We're highly supportive of championing a more regulated service to further ensure patients' safety in aesthetic treatments and would welcome the opportunity to work with the NHS England and other organisations to achieve this aim."