SUFFOLK: Health bosses have moved to reassure patients about concerns over the breast implants at the centre of a national media storm.

Ipswich Hospital has received more than 50 calls from concerned patients in the past few days about the implants supplied by Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) amid fears of a high risk of them rupturing.

But consultant surgeon Caroline Mortimer, of the breast care team, said the Heath Road hospital, which only carries out reconstructions for medical reasons, has never used the French-manufactured implant.

“The breast care team at Ipswich Hospital would like to reassure patients, past and present, that Ipswich Hospital has never used the French-manufactured implants that are currently causing concern in the media.

“The implants used at Ipswich Hospital have always been of the highest medical safety standard and are known as cohesive gel implants.

“These implants do not contain the type of silicone that can leak.” It is thought around 40,000 women in the UK have been fitted with the banned implants - around 95 per cent had the operation privately and just five per cent on the NHS.