Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has engaged with ADPs and a range of partners to support and to review the effectiveness of service delivery, reflecting on this and balancing against the overall pressures on the Health budget, in setting the 2017-18 budget.

In 2016-17, NHS boards are expected to maintain spending on drug and alcohol treatment and recovery support services at 2015-16 levels, supplementing the Scottish Governments’ direct allocation from increased board baseline funding as required.

In 2017-18 specific funding of £53.8 million to support Alcohol and Drug Partnership work, will be added to board’s baseline funding and delegated to Integrated Authorities. As in previous years, the position remains that funds provided directly from the Scottish Government budget, sit alongside funds provided from other NHS sources (including NHS baseline funding), statutory partners and the third sector, which collectively makes up the resource package for this important work.

Scottish Government staff have participated in formal Cross-UK forum meetings with the MHRA, regarding pharmacy and medical device issues, in January 2016, April 2016, July 2016, October 2016 and January 2017. A meeting also took place between Scottish Government officials, Health Facilities Scotland and MHRA in February 2017.

Other ad-hoc meetings involving a range of Scottish Government staff have taken place as required.

Non-mesh treatments include both surgical and non-surgical interventions. Surgical interventions include the use of simple suture repairs or the use of host native tissue.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07740 on 17 March 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Records suggest that there are no active cases or claims relating to non-mesh treatments for stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse.

NHS National Services Scotland confirms that a total of six incidents involving abdominal hernia repair mesh have been reported since 1994.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07740 on 17 March 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

It is the responsibility of the MHRA to regulate medical devices in the UK, and the Scottish Government will act as necessary, according to its advice.

I understand that all relevant evidence available has been considered by the Review. The passage of time between the publication of the Interim Report and the forthcoming Final Report is due to the Review awaiting the publication of several key studies.