NO island breast cancer patients who had reconstruction procedures carried out on the NHS were fitted with PIP implants, the House of Keys was told
Questions about whether island-based breast cancer patients have been caught up in the PIP breast implant scandal were raised in the Keys by Brenda Cannell (Douglas East).
Health Minister David Anderson replied: ‘Both the Linda McCartney Centre and the plastic surgery unit at Whiston Hospital had confirmed that they never used PIP implants on any of our patients.’
But Mrs Cannell asked about those NHS patients who had undergone a mastectomy but whose breast reconstruction had been delayed.
She said she had been made aware of two such patients who had chosen to take out loans and have the surgery done privately rather than wait for two or three years to have it done on the NHS.
Mrs Cannell asked whether the Department of Health had a ‘moral obligation’ to give these patients help and support.
Mr Anderson replied: ‘Certain patients have gone down the private route and they should seek advice. I suggest they should contact the department to see what their individual position is.’
Controversy has surrounded French-based PIP following revelations that from 2001 it was using industrial-grade silicone instead of the more expensive medical-grade silicone.
The news was followed with concerns that the affected implants may be more prone to rupturing, and the health implications of industrial-grade silicone leaking into the body.
After the scandal broke the island’s Department of Health released a statement saying it was not aware of any women in the Isle of Man who had received the implants, either privately or through the NHS.
Subsequently, however, Isle of Man Newspapers have been approached by four women who had PIP implants – and there may be more.
One of them is Lori Corlett who received PIP implants in February 2007 from the Harley Medical Group in the UK. She has joined the PIP Implant Protest Group on Facebook and asked anyone who wants to talk to her about the issue to join the group or contact her through Isle of Man Newspapers.
