IMB 'misinformed about response to breast implant scare'

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has today claimed that it was misinformed by the Harley Medical Group about how it dealt with the issue of faulty breast implants.

The Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) implants are now banned in Europe after it emerged they could leak.

The IMB stated that the Harley Medical Group assured the board that it had written to all its affected Irish patients, but the board has since found out that a direct letter was never sent. Instead, the Group used its website to communicate with patients.

The IMB said that it is concerned that its recommendation was not followed, and that it was misinformed.

A direct letter will now be sent by the Harley Medical Group to all affected patients by Monday.

Meanwhile, the British government has said there is no evidence to recommend the routine removal of the implants among the 40,000 women affected there.