The escalation of the scandal involving the French Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) breast implants has prompted Cardiff-based firm Hugh James to lead a massive legal bid aimed at winning compensation for hundreds of affected women.

The Welsh law firm has moved the Cardiff city High Court in its attempt to seek reimbursement for nearly 250 women who has gone in for the low-quality silicone breast implants.

In addition, a number of other women from all across the UK have also contacted the Hugh James law firm to represent their case.

It was back in 2009 that Hugh James commenced its probe into the problems reported by women with the French PIP breast implants; with concerns raised chiefly over ruptures.

Hugh James’ attempt at getting due compensation for the affected women could likely result in the shelling out of approximately £15,000 per patient in reimbursement by the private clinics, which would probably end up bearing a total damage-compensation cost of up to £10.5million for the faulty implants.

Citing the plight of the affected women, Mark Harvey, head of litigation at Hugh James in Cardiff, said that the biggest disappointment in the entire French PIP implants scandal was “the realisation that the clinics appear to be immune from any government control;” and added: “There is just a huge gap in patient safety, particularly in this country and in Europe.”