Question reference: S5W-35502
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 26 February 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many removal of transobturator meshes with the bilateral groin incision approach procedures were performed (a) prior to and (b) since 1 May 2019; how many surgeons took part, broken down by the number of procedures each performed; what information it has regarding who trained the surgeons, and (i) how many procedures they have carried out, (ii) when they carried out their first procedure, (iii) what evidence was accepted to confirm their accreditation, and who is responsible for the (A) trainer's appointment and (B) monitoring of their skills.
Answer
The information requested is not collected or held by the Scottish Government.
With regard to skills acquisition, accreditation and monitoring of surgeons’ skills and performing such procedures, I would draw your attention to the Chief Medical Officer’s submission to the Public Petitions Committee in November 2020, in which he outlined the standard training curriculum and the Revalidation process. This is available online at: Chief Medical Officer and Secretariat Division.dot (parliament.scot) . In addition, you will be aware of the work that is ongoing to develop a General Medical Council-approved credential in mesh removal, which will provide further assurance for the service here, as well as reassurance for patients.
Scotland has also committed to joining a UK-wide database of procedures which is currently being developed having been unavoidably delayed by the necessary response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will allow comparison of activity and outcomes across the UK designated specialist centres.