Private clinics deny patients repair care

Some private clinics at the centre of the breast implant scandal are claiming they do not have “the skills” to treat affected patients.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said private firms were referring patients to the NHS if their implants have ruptured, claiming they cannot help them themselves.

The government has called on private clinics to replace PIP implants for free.

Former BAAPS president Nigel Mercer said: “I’ve recently seen a number of patients with lumps in their armpits – in one case, the surgeon admitted not having the skills to remove them

“Either these clinics’ practitioners aren’t qualified plastic surgeons as is generally claimed on their websites, which is clearly alarming, or they don’t want to bear the costs of caring for their own patients. Frankly, neither option should be acceptable to the women affected.”