Written question asked by Steve Brine (Conservative) on Monday, 30 January 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 February 2012. It was answered by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Monday, 6 February 2012 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Breast Cancer: Plastic Surgery

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he plans to issue to the NHS on categorising breast reconstruction as clinically necessary for breast cancer patients in cases where a private provider of PIP implants (a) no longer exists and (b) refuses to remove the implants; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, wrote to national health service general practitioners and specialists on 27 January to highlight certain points in her earlier letter of 6 January. Among other points, she drew attention to existing guidance, ““Information for Commissioners of Plastic Surgery Services””, originally issued by the former Modernisation Agency, on the criteria for providing primary breast augmentation at NHS expense. Patients who have had a partial or complete mastectomy are explicitly referred to in the criteria. NHS commissioners will wish to take account of this guidance in deciding whether to fund replacement implants for patients whose provider no longer exists or refuses to honour their legal and moral obligations. Copies of all these documents have been placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 93054; 540 c139W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2012-0236
Monday, 6 February 2012
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Breast cancer Plastic surgery
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk