Andrew Lansley calls for clinics to take action for PIP failure
17 | 01 | 12
The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has called for private
clinics to accept responsibility and take action for their part in
the PIP breast implant failure. The announcement follows a march by
60 women on private clinics that inserted the defective PIP
implant.
The faulty PIP implants are the subject of a Medical Device
Alert (MDA) by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA); a recall was issued on March 31 2010 for all UK
implants following concerns about an increase in rupture rates.
Mr Lansley has said he will examine the ability of the private
sector to meet their liabilities towards their patients. He also
spoke of the recent announcement by the private clinics which
claims that the removal of the defective PIP implants would cause
them to go out of business. Mr Lansley said "I'm not happy
about private providers not stepping up to their responsibilities
at all. The argument that they somehow can't afford to do so begs
the question of where was their insurance; where were they insuring
themselves against their liabilities?"
Mr Lansley has asked the Medical Director of the NHS to convene
a group of experts to investigate future regulation of the cosmetic
industry.
The UK Government announced on 6 January that there is no
need for routine removal of PIP breast implants, which over 40,000
women in the UK have received. The Welsh Government went against
this decision, announcing that it would fund the removal and
replacement of the defective PIP implants for all Welsh residents.
The UK Government, however, continues to support its decision and
has launched an advertising campaign to support those
affected.
Mark Harvey,
Partner and Head of the top ranked Personal Injury team at Hugh James
solicitors represents over 700 patients affected by PIP product
failure. Mark has been campaigning heavily for patients and has
given reaction to the latest statement by the Health Secretary.
Mark says "I agree with Andrew Lansley that the clinics should
be taking responsibility for the PIP scandal. I also think however
that there should be tighter controls over the cosmetic surgery
industry ensuring that clinics, providers and also
manufacturers of medical devices such as breast implants are
adequately insured should a problem arise. This problem would
not have arisen in the first place however had the MHRA not
allowed this product to have been brought into this
country."
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For information on joining the
group represented by Mark Harvey please contact Hugh James on 02920
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