Chamber and committees

The number of transobturator mesh tape and prolapse mesh procedures carried out by the NHS between June 2014 to Sep 2016 are set out in the following tables. The numbers of procedures carried out by each Health Board are not broken down by month due to the small numbers of patients involved.

Note: where a figure is not given, this is to protect patient confidentiality due to the small numbers involved.

Source: NHS National Services Scotland.

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

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

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

The Independent Review’s secretariat has provided support to all members of the Review. This has included, amongst other things, the arranging meetings at convenient times and in appropriate accommodation, the arranging of teleconferencing facilities, the provision of hard copy papers, the refunding of travelling expenses, and other assistance upon request. Scottish Government officials are unable to provide legal advice.

The Independent Review has awaited the publication of several key studies that it wished to consider as part of its deliberations. These were published at the very end of last year, and the Review aims to issue its final report this spring.

The Chair of the Independent Review has confirmed that the clinician members of the review met twice; firstly in October 2016 (Edinburgh), and subsequently in January 2017 (Glasgow). In addition, the clinician members held a teleconference in January 2017. The nature of these meetings was to agree the content of the chapter of the final report for which the clinicians were responsible, and separate minutes were not therefore taken.

The Chair of the Review also held teleconferences with both the Scottish Mesh Survivors members and with the other patient representative in January 2017. These were informal discussions and were not minuted.

Ministers and government officials have taken great care to allow the Review to take an independent view on the matter, and the members’ range of experiences and expertise was intended to ensure that a comprehensive examination of the situation was possible. This is a complex, technical area and the Scottish Government has given the Review wide latitude to prepare the report without interference from Government.

A member of the MHRA has served on the Independent Review, and therefore endorsed the interim report. The report was featured on the MHRA website in October 2015.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-safety-and-efficacy-of-transvaginal-mesh-implants-in-the-treatment-of-stress-urinary-incontinence-and-pelvic-organ-prolapse-in-women.

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.