Private firms must help

Private cosmetic surgery firms have a duty to support women with faulty breast implants, the British Labour Party said yesterday.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham called on companies to honour their responsibilities and offer help to patients who have gone under the knife.

His demand came amid fears for British women who are thought to have received silicone implants made by Poly Implant Prothese.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley launched a review of the risks from faulty breast implants after receiving new evidence from major cosmetic surgery firm Transform.

Mr Burnham said that private firms should fund consultations for women who want to see a doctor and discuss their options.

He added: “The industry should meet that cost.

“You get the distinct impression here we are dealing with an industry that’s good at the sales pitch and taking the money up front, but less good at the after-care and facing up to responsibilities when things go wrong.”

He accused the industry of “evading responsibilities” and told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I would ensure that people who have had a problem, where there has been evidence of rupture, that they get immediate corrective surgery paid for by the private cosmetic surgery industry.

“It’s just not acceptable to hear they have refused to do that.”