Govt awaiting advice for British women while Austrian doctors offer to remove PIP implants for free
The French Government believes women with silicone breast implants from the company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) are at possible risk of rupture and should have the devices removed. Meanwhile, the British Government is still awaiting the results of a full report into the dangers of the breast implants before it makes a ruling on their safety.
And an Austrian private hospital Vienna International Medical Clinic (VIMC) has offered to remove PIP breast implants from British women for free immediately.
The clinic has also called for the introduction of international standards on implants to prevent a recurrence of the problem.
French authorities recommended that impants should be removed after finding a rupture rate of 5%. UK figures suggest a much lower rate.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley told the BBC today, 'The overwhelming evidence continues to support the advice we've given women previously. It is not advisable for women to routinely have implants removed because the risk associated with an operation of that kind would outweigh the benefit of removing these implants.'
He said he would revisit this advice once he has received and analysed the results of the report.
Head surgeon at VIMC, Thomas Aigner says, 'We have warned of the risks of PIP before and were taken a back by how widespread their use was in the UK and worldwide. Our surgeons have all agreed that we have a role to play in putting people's minds at rest, which is why we are offering to remove the PIP implants free of surgeon costs.'
He adds, 'It is not right for the UK taxpayer to pick up the bill for this and it is not right that the victims have to pay again for something that was not their fault.'
