Submission of patient records to Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry (BCIR) mandatory

As of 14^th January, patient consent is no longer be required for their record to be added to the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry (BCIR). The BCIR Steering Group, which includes representatives from BAPRAS as well as ABS and BAAPS, has been working with the Department of Health and Social Care to agree this change and improve patient safety.

With over 20,000 women receiving breast implants for reconstructive or cosmetic reasons in the last year, the registry is a vital patient safety initiative which enables the collection of long-term safety data and ensures the patient recipients of specific makes of implants can be traced, if needed.

Submission of records to the BCIR is now mandatory for NHS funded patients and is requested for privately funded patients being treated in any provider in England. This also applies to patients undergoing surgery in Scotland. Historical patients’ records however, cannot be added without patient consent.

Mr Graeme Perks, Chair of the BCIR Steering Group and BAPRAS representative commented:

‘The Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry (BCIR) has been developed to monitor and improve breast implant safety, as tens of thousands of women receive breast implants for reconstructive or cosmetic reasons each year. Recording both the implants that have been used for patients, and the surgeons that have carried out the procedures, will allow patients and implants to be traced, when needed. It will contribute vital data to such poorly understood conditions as Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), and add to the growing international collaboration through it contribution to ICOBRA (the International Collaboration on Breast Registry Activities). We urge surgeons to comply with these new regulations, and register the operations under their care.’ 

For updated patient information leaflets, user guidance and further details about the registry, please visit the NHS Digital website: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/clinical-audits-and-registries/breast-and-cosmetic-implant-registry.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the change, please do get in touch with the project team at NHS Digital biregistry@nhs.net.