Urgent Update on PIP Implants: Statement by Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State
The following statement has been released on Friday 6th January 2012
The interim
report of the expert group brought together in relation to
breast implants made by PIP has been released today.
A
statement has been released from the Department of Health
and Andrew Lansley
Mr Dick Rainsbury, President of the Association of Breast
Surgery has made the following statement:
'Today's announcement on the management of patients with PIP
breast implants is to be welcomed. As the
ABS representative on the Expert Advisory Group to the
MHRA and the DoH, I strongly supported the indications
for implant removal based on a lack of evidence of safety,
alongside BAPRAS and BAAPS. These indications include
symptomatic/asymptomatic rupture, or sufficient patient concern
about the substandard nature of these devices, in the
absence of evidence of rupture ('preventative' removal)
Around 95% of these implants (involving circa 40K women) have
been used for augmentation, with an estimated 3K used during
reconstruction. Where patients elect implant removal, the
NHS will fund removal/exchange following
previous reconstruction in the NHS. Private Providers will be
expected to play their part in explantation/exchange, but for women
unable to access this service, the NHS will undertake to carry out
explantation only.
Clearly this decision has the potential for a
major impact on our referrals and workload. I have made very
clear representations to the group about the potential for
derailing CWTs, recommending that patients are referred outwith the
2WW.
Supported by BAPRAS and BAAPS, we are recommending the
following 'routes of referral:
1. Patients with new breast symptoms and/or clinical signs are
referred to NHS breast surgeons
2. Asymptomatic patients are referred back to the private
provider
3. Asymptomatic patients unable to access the private provider
are referred to NHS plastic surgeons
The Expert Group will now carry out a fundamental review of the
systems in place for the reporting and regulation of implant
surgery, and we will continue to represent the interests of our
patients and our members'.
A press
release has also been issued by the Royal College of Surgeons
of England, along with the ABS, BAAPS and BAPRAS