Published on Saturday 1 December 2012 01:30
Women with faulty breast implants are outraged after being told they can no longer take legal action against the company which fitted them.
A restructuring deal by Harley Medical Group, which put in the greatest number of PIP implants, means the firm cannot be held liable.
Leeds women fighting for compensation over the implants made with non-medical silicone have been left angry.
Kate Ward, who was taking action against the company, said: “How can they be allowed to do that and diminish responsibility? I am just gobsmacked.”
The firm – which has a branch in Leeds – is still operating after being taken over by a new holding company.
Kate, from Kirkstall, Leeds, had her initial breast enlargement in 2005 at a Yorkshire Harley Medical Group clinic but paid £5,500 to have hers removed at another hospital in January.
About 4 per cent of the gel in the implants had leaked.
Another Leeds PIP victim had to borrow £2,400 to have her implants removed.
Single mum Marie Robinson also had her PIPs fitted through Harley Medical Group and was hoping to take legal action.
Marie, from Armley, Leeds, said: “If the Government are letting the clinics get away with it, then I think the next step should be to claim from the regulators.”
A spokesman for Harley Medical Group said they had removed faulty implants where there was a medical need for free.
“This was the right thing to do and is in line with recommendations from expert reviews, but the impact on our business has meant that we would have been unable to continue without restructuring and bringing in new investment.”
He said the move allowed them to continue to care for all patients.
“Despite ourselves also being a victim of this fraud, we were also faced with liabilities arising from a class action that we simply wouldn’t have been able to survive.
“This is why we believe that the action that has been taken remains the only action, in the prevailing circumstances, that could have been taken in the best interests of our PIP and other patients.”
* Patient group PIP Action Campaign is holding a Wear Yellow awareness day next Friday. (Dec 7)
https://www.facebook.com/events/295963633850990/
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/anger-at-end-of-breast-implant-claims-1-5187177
Leeds women fighting for compensation over the implants made with non-medical silicone have been left angry.
Kate Ward, who was taking action against the company, said: “How can they be allowed to do that and diminish responsibility? I am just gobsmacked.”
The firm – which has a branch in Leeds – is still operating after being taken over by a new holding company.
Kate, from Kirkstall, Leeds, had her initial breast enlargement in 2005 at a Yorkshire Harley Medical Group clinic but paid £5,500 to have hers removed at another hospital in January.
About 4 per cent of the gel in the implants had leaked.
Another Leeds PIP victim had to borrow £2,400 to have her implants removed.
Single mum Marie Robinson also had her PIPs fitted through Harley Medical Group and was hoping to take legal action.
Marie, from Armley, Leeds, said: “If the Government are letting the clinics get away with it, then I think the next step should be to claim from the regulators.”
A spokesman for Harley Medical Group said they had removed faulty implants where there was a medical need for free.
“This was the right thing to do and is in line with recommendations from expert reviews, but the impact on our business has meant that we would have been unable to continue without restructuring and bringing in new investment.”
He said the move allowed them to continue to care for all patients.
“Despite ourselves also being a victim of this fraud, we were also faced with liabilities arising from a class action that we simply wouldn’t have been able to survive.
“This is why we believe that the action that has been taken remains the only action, in the prevailing circumstances, that could have been taken in the best interests of our PIP and other patients.”
* Patient group PIP Action Campaign is holding a Wear Yellow awareness day next Friday. (Dec 7)
https://www.facebook.com/events/295963633850990/
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/anger-at-end-of-breast-implant-claims-1-5187177
