Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to S6W-11396 on 1 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Cancer services do not sit in silo, they cross-cut numerous specialties and teams which have been greatly affected by the pandemic, including diagnostics. While those referred as an urgent suspicion of cancer (USC) continue to be prioritised and more patients were treated on a 62-day pathway in the latest published quarter (Q2 2022) compared to pre-COVID, clearly recovery will take time. This is why we published our NHS Recovery Plan in August 2021. It reinforces our commitment to continue to invest in cancer pathways - £10 million was released to Boards in August 2022 – and our ambition to maintain the 31-day standard and achieve the 62-day standard on a sustainable basis.

Our National Cancer Plan set out to recover and redesign cancer services, with 68 individual actions across the patient pathway to improve patients’ experience of care, and roll-out innovative treatments. The plan adopts a ‘Once for Scotland’ approach to cancer services and ensures that access to care and treatment is equitable across Scotland.

The reimbursement scheme established under the Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Act 2022 is concerned with the reimbursement of costs associated mesh removal surgery arranged by women privately, where such arrangements were made on or before 3 June 2022. The scheme has no function in relation to the commissioning by NHS Scotland of mesh removal surgery from independent providers.

Mesh removal surgery commissioned from independent providers by NHS Scotland, in the UK or elsewhere, is arranged under Health Boards’ general powers, and there is no time limit on such arrangements being made.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11635 on‎ 14 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government designated the Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC). This service assesses needs and, where appropriate and subject to shared decision making and informed consent, performs mesh removal surgery.

The Scottish Government fully understands that women feel that they have been let down by clinicians in the past. When establishing the service, NHS GGC has kept this in mind and, as such, there are a number of consultants, including one who has joined the service from NHS England. This gives women choice over who is involved in their care. All patients who are being considered for surgery are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team that includes mental health, physiotherapy and pain management specialists. The service also employs specialist nurses who help direct women through the service and help to ensure that they are comfortable and reassured during their visit.

More information is available online: National Complex Mesh Surgical Service Webpage .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11633 on‎ 14 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11633 on‎ 14 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Complex Pelvic Mesh Service provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) offers holistic care for women experiencing mesh complications. There are a number of consultants operating in the service allowing women a choice over who is involved in their care. Complementing this, and to allow women more choice, individuals can also opt to be referred to NHS England services for surgery, or can choose to travel to Spire Hospital in Bristol, or to Dr Veronikis in the USA.

Any woman seeking referral to the mesh service in Glasgow, NHS England, Spire Hospital or Dr Veronikis should initially discuss her case with clinicians within her own Health Board. If considered appropriate at that stage, she will then be referred to the specialist service in NHS GGC for consideration by a full multi-disciplinary team (MDT). If, after careful consideration by both the MDT and the patient, it is agreed that surgery is appropriate, she will then be given the option of receiving treatment through the Glasgow centre, or referral to an NHS England Specialist Centre, the Spire in Bristol, or Dr Veronikis, depending on her wishes.

Regardless of the treatment option chosen, initial assessment in the specialist service in Glasgow is extremely important as it ensures that the patient receives the proper consideration of a full MDT, and will receive care that is fully integrated with any pre- and post-operative care provided locally.

Public Health Scotland does not publish data at the level of detail requested. However, statistics relating to the waits patients experience for inpatient or day case treatment at specialty level are published up to 31 March 2022 and can be found here: Stage of treatment waiting times - Inpatients, day cases and new outpatients 30 June 2022 - NHS waiting times - stage of treatment - Publications - Public Health Scotland

Both the Scottish Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are aware, and regret, that patients are experiencing longer than normal delays in accessing NHS care, including at the mesh removal service in Glasgow. Patients are, however, being seen, surgeries carried out, and concerted efforts are being made to reduce waiting times.

After competitive tender, a contract was awarded to Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP to obtain expert independent advice on the implications of VAT on the NCS and associated Care Boards. No decisions have been made at this point and a full understanding of the impact of all options will be considered.

In 2022-23, funding of £18 billion is provided for health and social care. This substantial investment is already benefitting a range of services that are supporting the needs of people living with long COVID.

Health funding for 2023-24 will be confirmed through the forthcoming budget process.

We engage with NHS Boards on a regular basis regarding their capacity needs, and will continue to do so in order to inform the allocation of the long COVID Support Fund.