Mum’s implants agony goes on

A MOTHER who has undergone tests for a suspected leaking breast implant says she has been left in limbo after being told she is unlikely to have a rupture.

Andrea Hornby had an ultrasound scan at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on Friday after contacting the private company The Hospital Group, who fitted her PIP-made implants.

The 37-year-old of Mortimer Street, Oldham, has been experiencing burning sensations and pain which suggest the now-banned implants, which use industrial silicone not suitable for use in the body, were leaking.

But after being told by medics on Friday it “doesn’t look” like she has a rupture, she is worried about her continuing symptoms.

Doctors have ordered an MRI scan. The mum of children aged four, 11 and 14 is now waiting to hear when it will be carried out.

Andrea said: “I know it sounds good that they are not ruptured, but it isn’t. If they were, The Hospital Group would have replaced them — but if they are not, they will only take them out if I sign a disclaimer. I haven’t got the £1,500 to have them replaced, and as I have very little breast tissue left I don’t know what I can do.

“I am still getting the symptoms and taking painkillers, but they said there is nothing obvious and they could be anything, they could be down to scar tissue from the operation. They are just shooting in the dark.

Andrea is among up to 40,000 women the NHS believes have the PIP implants, made by French company Poly Implant Prostheses. The NHS will remove, but not replace, implants if a private clinic refuses or no longer exits.