PIP breast implants not used in Northern Ireland

Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, Michael McBride, says the controversial PIP breast implants were not used in any private or NHS surgery in Northern Ireland.

The PIP breast implants are currently under scrutiny after being banned in France, where they were made, and some reports suggested they had a higher risk of rupture than normal. The implants were also found to include industrial grade silicone, which is normally used in furniture and computer parts, as opposed to the more expensive medical grade silicone which is normally found in breast implants.

Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, on Friday advised that anyone in the UK who received the implants in an NHS breast reconstruction operation would have them replaced at the expense of the NHS, and said there was a "moral duty" on private healthcare providers to do the same. If those clinics refuse the NHS will pay to have the implants removed.

While no PIP implants are said to have been used in Northern Ireland, Mr McBride did speculate that some women may have had the implants fitted elsewhere in the UK.

If you have suffered injury or loss as the result of a defective product or medical negligence, you should contact a solicitor for advice on a possible claim for compensation. Call 0800 840 9289 to speak to one of the claims solicitors at Wilson Nesbitt in Belfast.

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