Question reference: S5W-35876
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33642 by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020, whether it will provide a breakdown of the reasons given for applications to the mesh fund being declined.
Answer
A small number of applications have been declined, either because the operation in question did not involve the implantation of transvaginal mesh, because insufficient evidence was provided, or because implantation of mesh was not carried out by or on behalf of an NHS Scotland Health Board.
We have been clear in our wish to reimburse those women who, in absence of out of Scotland NHS referrals, incurred costs of past mesh removal surgery arranged and paid for privately, along with connected expenses including those for travel. We intend to use the existing mesh fund but in light of legal advice that we do not currently have powers to use public funds in this way, new legislation will be required.
The present administration will, if it is returned to office, introduce a Bill to the Parliament to give Ministers specific power to make payments of this kind. The present administration plans to introduce a Bill with this purpose early in the next session of the Parliament.
A scheme of reimbursement will, like the mesh fund now, require appropriate arrangements in terms of the verification of applications and also new arrangements with respect to the submission of documentary evidence connected to personal expenditure. It will also be necessary to consider appropriate eligibility criteria.