News story

PIP Breast Implants: Interim Report of the Expert Group

Interim report of the expert group brought together in relation to breast implants from the French company Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP).

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The overriding concern of the group is the safety and compassionate treatment of women with PIP breast implants.

The PIP Breast Implants interim report:

  • reviews the available data on the health risks from PIP implants
  • concludes that there is no clear evidence at present that patients with a PIP implant are at greater risk of harm than those with other implants, and we therefore agree with the MHRA advice that there is no specific safety concern identified which requires a recommendation of routine removal of PIP implants
  • recognises the anxiety of many women who received PIP implants in good faith on the assumption that they were manufactured in accordance with EC standards
  • commends and endorses the decision of DH ministers that, where women have received a PIP implant as part of NHS treatment, they will be contacted to inform them that they have a PIP implant and to provide relevant information and advice; and will be offered further procedures subject to clinical need and taking full account of the wishes and concerns of the patient
  • expects private sector providers to take similar action
  • the available evidence is subject to considerable uncertainty and therefore we recommend the collection of additional information which will enable the group reach a more informed view.
Published 6 January 2012