COSMETIC surgeons have so far operated on 52 women in Grimsby's private hospital to remove PIP implants – and 12 were found to have ruptured.
Last year, bosses at St Hugh's Hospital, in Peaks Lane, Grimsby, revealed that 44 women had undergone breast surgery there before November 2008, when the hospital had been used by the Cosmetic Surgery Centre Company (CSC).
It later transpired that the Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) implants used, made by a French company, could be toxic and at a high risk of rupturing, sparking major health concerns with women nationwide.
The scandal fully emerged in December 2011, when medical experts in France urged women to have them removed as a precaution.
Donna Read, St Hugh's Hospital director, took over management in 2008 and with it the task of cancelling the contract the centre had with CSC after having her own concerns about PIP.
Instead, she decided to open the hospital's own cosmetic surgery section, using Alastair Platt and Mohammed Riaz, from Hull Plastic Surgeons, to carry out all breast implants.
CSC ceased trading in 2010, leaving Mrs Read and her team to pick up the pieces with concerned women demanding their implants were taken out.
After numerous meetings, Mrs Read was able to confirm that all women who had the implants fitted at St Hugh's under CSC could have them removed and replaced for free, as reported.
So far, out of these 44 patients, 38 have undergone treatment; the remaining six women have been offered it but for various medical reasons, including pregnancy, have been unable to do so yet.
Today, Mrs Read confirmed that 12 of the 38 PIP implants removed had ruptured or were damaged in some way.
She also revealed that 14 extra women who had their PIP implants fitted through a different company wanted to be admitted to St Hugh's to have them out.
In these cases, the Government paid for the removal of the implants but the 14 women paid at non-profit prices to have them replaced with another type.
Mrs Read is delighted that she was able to keep her word and provide the much-needed support to all these women.
"I was sympathetic to those concerned and keen to provide some reassurance which we were able to do with the support of our board of trustees," she said.
"All clients were invited to have an MRI scan to establish whether or not the implants had ruptured.
"Specific outpatient clinics were held to feed back the results of the scans and then subsequent consultations were organised with our cosmetic surgeons.
"It was important to us that our local ladies did not feel abandoned.
"The ladies who used the CSC not only had their implants removed but also replaced at no cost.
"There were others who contacted us regarding their worries who were subsequently dealt with, despite the original provider taking no responsibility.
"I am extremely proud to be the hospital director of St Hugh's, which ensured that our local women were dealt with."
A 43-year-old Cleethorpes woman, who wished to remain anonymous, had her PIP implants removed and replaced for free at the hospital.
She said: "It was such a worrying time when all the news broke.
"I just wanted them out as soon as possible. I understand that St Hugh's were put under a lot of pressure but I feel staff there did their best for us all.
"It is a weight off my mind now they are out, but I can not help thinking 'what if' about the new ones, even though I have been fully reassured they are safe.
"If I could get away with it, I would not have implants in but they boost my self-esteem.
"I would urge all ladies thinking about implants to do rigorous research and speak to a surgeon.
"I am glad those who supplied the PIP implants in France are now being held to account in court.
"I just hope they get a sentence that justifies the amount of fear they created in women across country."