The Welsh Government has said it will pay for the replacement of banned breast implants.
The implants, from French firm Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), were banned last year after they were found to contain a non-medical-grade silicone filler.
All women in Wales who are assessed clinically as needing Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) breast implants removed will be offered replacement implants on the NHS, regardless of whether they received the initial implant privately or from the NHS.
The NHS will require evidence that women who were originally treated privately have sought redress from their private provider, evidence that the woman is a Welsh resident and registered with a Welsh GP, and a clinical assessment of their case.
The offer is an extension to the announcement made last week (6 January), which offered NHS removal and replacement of implants to NHS patients deemed in clinical need, and removal only for women who were treated privately. Now, women who were originally treated privately who find their private clinic no longer exists or refuses to care for the patient, will also be eligible for replacement on the NHS.
It is not known how many women in Wales are affected, although all indications are that it is relatively low. Work is underway to establish the likely number.
Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “We announced last week that the NHS in Wales will remove PIP implants if, informed by an assessment of clinical need, a woman with her doctor decides that it is right to do so.
“We said then that we would replace implants which were put in by the NHS, and today we are going one step further by announcing we will also replace those which were put in privately.
“Removing the implants and not replacing them could result in unsightly scarring, loose skin, and potentially the accumulation of fluids, need for drainage, and risk of infection. Putting women through two separate operations also increases unnecessarily the risk of complication.
“However, I must stress that safeguards will be put in place to hold the private sector to account and ensure that everything possible is done to seek redress from private providers before the NHS steps in.”