The Government plans to prevent a repeat of the PIP breast implant fiasco, signalling Hiqa will get new powers to inspect private hospitals and certain cosmetic surgery procedures.

New rules to ensure all kinds of medical devices including hip replacements and breast implants are safer have been watered down by the European Parliament.

There are calls in the UK for tougher controls over who can offer cosmetic surgery in order to give patients better protection.

Laws to regulate the cosmetic surgery industry are being prepared, according to Health Minister James Reilly.

A mother of one said she was told she deserved cancer after she revealed that she was one of the women fitted with the breast implants that sparked a global health scare.