The Anonymous Widower

It Isn’t Just the PIP Implants To Blame

The third leader in The Times yesterday was a reasoned one on the scandal of the PIP implants.

It started by saying that those hospitals and clinics that fitted them should rectify the problem. It also said that the NHS and eight cosmetic surgery groups would replace the implants without charge.

The leader then said this.

But even in this mire, one private clinic stands out for the audacity with which it is abdicating its responsibility to its patients. The Harley Medical Group, which was responsible for fitting PIP implants to almost 14,000 of the 40,000 British women who received them, is refusing to replace the now banned implants without further charge. Doing so, it says, would put it out of business.

But what is Harley doing?  Absolutely nothing except protesting it wasn’t their fault, but one of the regulatory authorities.  I should say, that I’ve heard of the Harley Medical Group, as has everybody who uses escalators on the London Underground. I should say, that their adverts haven’t been there for some months.

It would be interesting to see a report on finances of the Harley Medical Group, by a reputable forensic accountant.

As an aside here, according to a doctor on BBC Breakfast, a proper breast implant costs £16,000.  So if Harley fitted implants to 14,000 women, that works out at  £448 million pounds to sort out the problem. The Times has a lesser figure of £40 million, bt also states that Harley only made a small profit last year.

So why should the NHS and ultimately the taxpayer pay for the patient’s vanity? And stupidity for going to Harley?

January 15, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | Health, News | NHS, Plastic Surgery, Tax