Health Care Complaints Commission temporarily shuts down Ozone Health Clinic at Penrith Plaza

Two therapists and an alternative clinic at a Penrith shopping centre have been temporarily banned from treating patients amid an ongoing probe by the healthcare watchdog.

The Westfield Penrith Plaza, where an Ozone Health Clinic practice has been temporarily shut down.

Two therapists and an alternative clinic at a Penrith shopping centre have been temporarily banned from treating patients amid an ongoing probe by the healthcare watchdog.

Ozone Health Clinic, which has several locations across Sydney, has been under investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission since August, when its Castle Hill clinic was raided and slapped with an eight-week interim prohibition order.

The search and order were understood to be part of a larger investigation by the commission into ozone therapy, an alternative medicine practice built on the belief that ozone gas — a form of oxygen — has restorative, healing qualities.

The controversial therapy aims to reduce inflammation, boost immunity and promote healing through increasing the amount of oxygen in the body.

The Castle Hill clinic was temporarily banned from providing health services, including “administration of any medication and/or intravenous and skin puncture procedures” for eight weeks, though this was later extended until November 21.

Now, a second location, this time in the Penrith Plaza, has been temporarily shut down.

Two therapists, including one who is allegedly unregistered, have also been temporarily banned from practising.

Linh Tuan Phan, described by the commission as a “non-registered” ozone therapist who owns and operates the Ozone Health Clinic, was slapped with an eight-week prohibition order on July 5.

The ban was later extended until Christmas Eve.

Under the order, Dr Phan is banned from providing any health services, including “ozone therapy” or any procedures involving penetration of the skin, and from advertising or marketing these services.

The day after the order relating to Dr Phan was extended, an Ozone clinic in Penrith Plaza was hit with an eight-week prohibition order under the same conditions.

The bans continued on Monday, when “ozone therapist” Kooper Fox was slapped with an eight-week prohibition order, which bans him from providing any healthcare services.

The order published by the commission does not specify where Mr Fox worked.

Ozone Health Clinic has been contacted for comment.

Following the Castle Hill raid in August, a spokesman for the clinic said it had a “strong commitment to improving the lives of those who come through our doors”.

“We are not averse to feedback, criticism and nor is our clinic above the law,” he said.

“It is regretful that the (commission) has levelled allegations primarily centring around the safety of ‘ozone therapy’ which our clinic has stood by..

“We are hopeful that the process that ensues will be of educational value for the (commission) and anyone interested in this type of therapy.”