Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report First Do No Harm, published on 8 July 2020, what discussions they have had regarding the provision of monetary compensation for people adversely affected by clinical and surgical pelvic mesh.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has asked the Patient Safety Commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes, to undertake work looking at redress for people harmed by pelvic mesh and sodium valproate. The work is intended to focus on the views of those affected, improving the understanding of how many people have been affected and how, the case for redress and what form it could take.
The Patient Safety Commissioner office has stated that the report setting out the findings from this work is expected to be published on 7 February this year. The Government will consider the report’s findings before deciding how to proceed on this matter.
The Government published its response to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety review in July 2021, which did not accept the recommendation to establish a redress agency, this position remains unchanged.
Correspondence Aug. 22 2023
Inquiry: Experiences of the Complex Mesh Surgical ServiceFound: Experiences of the Complex Mesh Surgical Service Letter from the Minister for Public Health and Women's
Mentions:
1: Torrance, David (SNP - Kirkcaldy) mesh and fixation devices while a review of all surgical procedures that use polyester, polypropylene - Speech Link
2: Clark, Katy (Lab - West Scotland) I will focus on the second part of the petition, which relates to guidelines for the surgical use of - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Baillie, Jackie (Lab - Dumbarton) There are reports that the complex mesh surgical service is not working. - Speech Link
2: Gulhane, Sandesh (Con - Glasgow) Complex mesh surgical services are hosted by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. - Speech Link
3: Clark, Katy (Lab - West Scotland) Such surgical mesh differs from transvaginal mesh, but many people are now suffering from similar complications - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Haughey, Clare (SNP - Rutherglen) Our second agenda item is follow-up scrutiny of the complex mesh surgical service. - Speech Link
2: Minto, Jenni (SNP - Argyll and Bute) I have a copy of it here, and it is described as the complex mesh surgical service pathway. - Speech Link
3: Minto, Jenni (SNP - Argyll and Bute) I have offered to send the committee the complex mesh surgical service pathway. - Speech Link
4: Mackay, Gillian (Green - Central Scotland) Obviously, at the moment, we have the complex mesh surgical service, and there will undoubtedly be women - Speech Link
Mar. 14 2024
Source Page: Freedom of Information responses from the MHRA - week commencing 4 December 2023Found: Dear FOI 23/916 - Request for information: Adverse incidents reported to the MHRA relating to mesh
Asked by: Carlaw, Jackson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Eastwood)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many mesh removal procedures in total have been carried out in Glasgow through referral to the National Complex Mesh Surgical Service since the centre was established, and how many of these procedures are considered to have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
The National Complex Mesh Surgical Service assesses patient needs and, where appropriate and subject to shared decision making and informed consent, performs mesh removal surgery. To date, 135 mesh removal procedures have been undertaken by the Service. Many women make the choice following assessment and discussion with the specialist team to follow a conservative pathway of care and do not undergo surgery.
The needs of patients and their goals may differ and therefore their definition of success will vary too. The removal of mesh is often only part of the treatment journey, with further reconstructive surgery depending on clinical need taking place at a later date. Patients may also have other needs which require to be addressed by other members of the clinical team.
The service is required to comply with normal clinical governance mechanisms in place within NHSGGC to provide an assurance that the service being delivered is safe and of an appropriate quality.
Mentions:
1: Sweeney, Paul (Lab - Glasgow) We will begin with some questions about experiences of referral and access to the complex mesh surgical - Speech Link
2: None It is really important to understand that the complex mesh surgical service is about more than surgery - Speech Link
3: Torrance, David (SNP - Kirkcaldy) Thank you for that.The complex mesh surgical service submission states that its service is primarily - Speech Link
4: None Indeed, we talk about the complex mesh surgical service, so we tend to think of it as a surgical service.However - Speech Link
Asked by: MacGregor, Fulton (Scottish National Party - Coatbridge and Chryston)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the reported long waiting times for patients in Glasgow seeking specialist treatment as a result of being affected by transvaginal mesh.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
NHS National Services Scotland, National Services Division (NSD) and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHS GGC) are working to improve waiting times for access to the highly specialist Complex Mesh Surgical Service. The ongoing need for service recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, across all areas of need in terms of women’s health, has resulted in waiting times which are disappointing, and the frustration felt by women facing significant waits is wholly understandable. For this we apologise.
However, patients are being seen, surgeries carried out, and efforts are being made to increase capacity.
The Service now also writes to patients once they are added to the outpatient waiting list, advising that their referral has been received and offering an estimated waiting time for their first appointment. This letter provides a QR code that links to the recently upgraded Complex Mesh Surgical Service Website where patients can access information about what patients can expect during their visit.
Waiting times from decision on treatment to surgery are now generally within the 12 week treatment time guarantee.
More generally, the Scottish Government is committed to eradicating long waits and we’ve already seen a significant reduction in the longest waits (over 2 years) since targets were announced. We are committed to providing further reductions through our £1bn NHS Recovery plan to increase health service capacity. We are also working closely with Health Boards to support implementation of alternative pathways and initiatives to support people being seen more quickly and increase capacity to ensure sustainability.
Asked by: Carlaw, Jackson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Eastwood)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much public money has been spent to reimburse the costs associated with mesh injured women experiencing private mesh removal surgery in the period since the Transvaginal Mesh Removal Reimbursement Scheme opened for applications.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
As at 15 February 2024, £481,423.63 had been paid to applicants. Administration costs to the same date are approximately £120,000.
The original scheme closure date was specified in the Scheme documentation and announced at the time of the Scheme’s opening as 6 December 2023. This date was then extended to 31 March 2024. The Government therefore urges any woman who wishes to apply, but has not yet done so, to ensure that an application is sent prior to this date.
The closure of the Reimbursement Scheme to applications has no effect on the arrangements that NHS National Services Scotland has entered into with both Spire Hospital, Bristol, and Dr Veronikis in the USA. In any situation where it is determined that removal surgery is clinically appropriate, the patient will remain able to choose, via the official NHS referral process, to have that surgery carried out in the Complex Mesh Surgical Service in Glasgow, in an NHS England centre, or by one of the two contracted independent providers.