NHS ‘spent over £355k’ on breast enlargements in Leeds
Figures obtained by the Yorkshire Evening Post under a freedom of information request specify that this was recorded between April 1st 2011 and March 31st 2012.
While hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on cosmetic surgery procedures more generally, the health care provider has come under fire for its use of public funds.
For instance, a 22-year-old Leeds woman was recently given breast enlargement surgery worth £4,800 on the NHS, which was paid for by the taxpayer.
Despite this, the service has staunchly defended its policy – emphasising the fact that such procedures are very strictly monitored and assessed.
A spokesman for the Leeds South and East Clinical Commissioning Group responded to the figures by making clear distinctions regarding the nature of NHS-funded cosmetic surgery treatment.
"We would like to clarify that cosmetic surgery is not routinely funded by the NHS," he remarked.
Indeed, these figures do incorporate considerations such as reconstruction after surgery for diseases such as breast cancer.
This comes at a time when people who received PIP implants are continuing to approach the NHS to have them removed.
Many of these individuals would have had the medical devices fitted by private providers, but have turned to the NHS for assistance following the revelation that the medical devices had been made with industrial-grade silicone that was not fit for human use.
A total of 129 cosmetic surgery procedures were carried out at NHS hospitals between the 2011-2012 period, which cost a total of £288,960.
From April 1st 2012 to March 31st 2013, the corresponding figure dropped to just 26, which would have accounted for £46,150 of public funding – and this decline has been attributed to a lower number of applicants for surgery.
http://www.handleylaw.co.uk/news/articles/cosmetic-surgery/nhs-spent-over-355k-on-breast-enlargements-in-leeds
