State to pay for faulty implant after-care

Taxpayers could face a bill of over €3m for the removal of faulty breast implants because a cosmetic surgery clinic who fitted them is not providing the care needed.

The Department of Health has been in talks with three companies who provided 1,500 Irishwomen with implants manufactured by French company Poly Implant Prosthèse (PIP).

Clane Hospital in Kildare and Shandon St Hospital in Cork have ensured the 500 women they fitted with PIP implants have been provided with the care needed, including the removal of implants.

However, despite “intense discussions” and “clear pressure”, Harley Medical Group, which supplied 1,000 women with PIP implants, “has failed to provide an appropriate care package for its clients”.

In a statement, the Department of Health said the chief medical officer, Dr Rony Holohan, met with the firm and was “not satisfied that the Harley Medical Group will fulfil their obligations in an acceptable manner”.

It has arranged for the women concerned to get an alternative service from the National Treatment Purchase Fund — meaning the State will assume the cost.

This will cover surgical consultations, X-rays, and the removal of implants if necessary. It will not cover the cost of replacement implants.

A spokesperson for the department said the full cost would not be known until after September.

However, based on a similar arrangement in Britain, where the cost per woman was about £3,000 (€2,380) the bill here could reach €3.7m.

Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor, who has called for tighter laws for the industry, said it is “extremely disappointing” that some women had not been given the necessary care. She said while it was good news for the women involved “it is not good news for the taxpayer as it means that the cost is to be borne by the State”.

The Harley Medical Group saw its business grow rapidly during the Celtic Tiger years, and became the biggest provider of cosmetic surgery in the country.

However, its profits have dropped since the start of the economic crisis. The company did not respond to queries yesterday.

Last night, Dr Holohan, in consultation with the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons, issued guidelines for people considering cosmetic surgery procedures.

It recommends people “avoid being tempted by the offer of discounted prices”.

It says patients should also take a two-week “cooling-off period” between a consultation and undergoing surgery, to ensure they are not pressurised into it.