Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, is one of a handful of firms providing cosmetic treatment, which have publicly agreed to meet the costs of investigating or removing French 'PIP' breast implants, which have caused a widespread health scare in Europe due to reports of them having a high rupture rate.

Nuffield Health, which is the also the largest charity by income in the UK, announced its stance two days before the government decided that the NHS would replace PIP implants fitted on the NHS for breast reconstruction.

For the past few weeks much debate has been held on the safety of silicone breast implants made by the French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP). The company’s products were banned in 2010 when it emerged that industrial-grade silicone was being used in the implants, instead of medical-grade material, which has passed safety tests for use in a human body.

The French government has reported that the PIP implants have a high rupture rate and has offered to remove all implants.

The UK government initially said there was no concern with the implants, but last Friday announced that patients fitted with PIP implants on the NHS for breast reconstruction would have them replaced.

Announcing the news, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said there was no evidence to recommend routine removal, but told private clinics they had a "moral duty" to take them out, and if they would not, the NHS would step in – if there is a clinical need.
 
Before this announcement, Nuffield Health had written to all patients who received PIP implants from its cosmetic surgeons. Dr Andrew Jones, group medical director at Nuffield Health, said: “Should any patients require clinical investigation or further surgical treatment, including the removal of the PIP implants due to clinical need, we will meet the costs incurred.”

Some cosmetic firms are refusing to offer women with PIP breast implants free removal and replacement, despite the government’s advice.