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NHS Digital has today published the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry annual report.

The report records the number of patients who have had at least one breast implant operation over the past year and had data on that operation submitted to the registry.

The registry was opened in October 2016 to be able to trace patients who had undergone procedures in the event of a product recall or other safety concern relating to a specific type of implant.

Data is presented on a quarterly basis and shows the number of patients and the number of operations recorded.

It also  shows the number of organisations, patients and operations recorded against NHS and independent providers.

Further breakdowns show the type of operation carried out by the NHS and in the independent sector.

Patient data is kept confidential and is held on a secure online platform, with no information shared with third parties.

Read the full report:  Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry

Notes to editors

1. Thousands of women were affected by faulty Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) silicone breast implants, which were banned in 2010. When the implants were recalled, poor record-keeping meant many women were unsure whether they had this type of implant and some could not be contacted. The Keogh Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions, was written in response to this, and made a series of recommendations including that a national breast and cosmetic implant registry was established. The Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry (BCIR) was set up by NHS Digital working with the Department of Health and Social Care, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), patient representatives, relevant professional bodies and other organisations, including the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and the Association of Breast Surgery.
    
2. This report is to provide information on the uptake of the registry. It does not provide a comprehensive view of the number of breast implant operations undertaken.
    
3. Currently, the BCIR only contains details of breast implant surgeries, but future developments may include information about other cosmetic surgeries.
    
4. Providers can submit data to the BCIR using NHS Digital's online Secure Clinical Audit Platform. More information is available here.

NHS Digital is the national information and technology partner of the health and care system.  Our team of information analysis, technology and project management experts create, deliver and manage the crucial digital systems, services, products and standards upon which health and care professionals depend.  During the 2018/19 financial year, NHS Digital published 265 statistical reports. Our vision is to harness the power of information and technology to make health and care better.

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