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| Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil requests mesh implant suspension | Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil requests mesh implant suspension |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil has requested the suspension of the use of mesh implants by the NHS in Scotland, pending safety investigations. | Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil has requested the suspension of the use of mesh implants by the NHS in Scotland, pending safety investigations. |
| Some of the women who receive the procedure, which is used to ease incontinence, have suffered painful and debilitating complications. | Some of the women who receive the procedure, which is used to ease incontinence, have suffered painful and debilitating complications. |
| Mr Neil told MSPs he was "deeply troubled" by the issue and was setting up an independent review. | Mr Neil told MSPs he was "deeply troubled" by the issue and was setting up an independent review. |
| Campaigners said his decision was unexpected, but welcome. | Campaigners said his decision was unexpected, but welcome. |
| About 1,500 women have the procedure in Scotland every year. | About 1,500 women have the procedure in Scotland every year. |
| The health secretary said he had asked Scotland's acting chief medical officer, Dr Frances Elliot, to write to health boards with a request to immediately suspend the procedures until further evidence from both the Scottish government review, and a Eurpoean Commission investigation into mesh implants, became available next year. | The health secretary said he had asked Scotland's acting chief medical officer, Dr Frances Elliot, to write to health boards with a request to immediately suspend the procedures until further evidence from both the Scottish government review, and a Eurpoean Commission investigation into mesh implants, became available next year. |
| "I believe that is the right thing to do, and that we should base any future decisions on the evidence as presented by these two reports," said Mr Neil. | "I believe that is the right thing to do, and that we should base any future decisions on the evidence as presented by these two reports," said Mr Neil. |
| The health secretary said his suspension request extended to both the transvaginal mesh (TVT) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) procedures. | The health secretary said his suspension request extended to both the transvaginal mesh (TVT) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) procedures. |
| Mr Neil's decision came after the Scottish Parliament's petitions committee previously heard harrowing evidence about women who suffered life-changing side effects after undergoing the procedure. | Mr Neil's decision came after the Scottish Parliament's petitions committee previously heard harrowing evidence about women who suffered life-changing side effects after undergoing the procedure. |
| Some have been left in constant pain after the implants hardened, and told they could never have sex again. | Some have been left in constant pain after the implants hardened, and told they could never have sex again. |
| Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, Mr Neil said: "We should all be very concerned to hear how these implants have affected the lives of some women in Scotland and elsewhere. | Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, Mr Neil said: "We should all be very concerned to hear how these implants have affected the lives of some women in Scotland and elsewhere. |
| "I've personally met with women who've been adversely affected, and I was deeply troubled to hear how women affected have suffered, and they have my full sympathy and support and we'll certainly do everything we can to improve the situation. | "I've personally met with women who've been adversely affected, and I was deeply troubled to hear how women affected have suffered, and they have my full sympathy and support and we'll certainly do everything we can to improve the situation. |
| "No one should have to experience the level of suffering that some of these women have had." | "No one should have to experience the level of suffering that some of these women have had." |
| Court action | Court action |
| Transvaginal mesh implants are usually used to treat a prolapsed bladder and relieve incontinence, often as a result of childbirth. | Transvaginal mesh implants are usually used to treat a prolapsed bladder and relieve incontinence, often as a result of childbirth. |
| Hundreds of mesh implant-related claims are due before the Scottish courts within the next year, with cases already under way in the US and Canada, where the authorities have issued warnings to hospitals. | Hundreds of mesh implant-related claims are due before the Scottish courts within the next year, with cases already under way in the US and Canada, where the authorities have issued warnings to hospitals. |
| The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign group had previously called for a suspension, pending an inquiry. | The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign group had previously called for a suspension, pending an inquiry. |
| Mr Neil said estimates over the success of the procedure indicated that most women, about 1,450, did not appear to suffer complications, but he warned the figure was "not entirely reliable", because of the under and non-reporting of problems. | Mr Neil said estimates over the success of the procedure indicated that most women, about 1,450, did not appear to suffer complications, but he warned the figure was "not entirely reliable", because of the under and non-reporting of problems. |
| One Scottish health authority, Dumfries and Galloway, has already suspended the use of mesh implants, saying it had not used them for some time and had no plans to in the foreseeable future. | |
| The health secretary said a series of other measures were being taken, including: | The health secretary said a series of other measures were being taken, including: |
| Campaigner Olive McIlroy, who brought the matter to the attention of the petitions committee after suffering from mesh implant complications, said: "I just didn't expect that decision today. | Campaigner Olive McIlroy, who brought the matter to the attention of the petitions committee after suffering from mesh implant complications, said: "I just didn't expect that decision today. |
| "It was the decision that we were hoping for and we're very glad that the minister made it, but he could have made it a year ago." | |
| The 57-year-old described MHRA regulations as "completely flawed", adding: "We welcome that there is going to be an independent review and there will be no manufacturers or anyone with a vested interest involved. | The 57-year-old described MHRA regulations as "completely flawed", adding: "We welcome that there is going to be an independent review and there will be no manufacturers or anyone with a vested interest involved. |
| "It has been too long. Our alternative evidence has been there for all to see, but nobody has listened." | "It has been too long. Our alternative evidence has been there for all to see, but nobody has listened." |
| Mr Neil said he hoped to announce the chair and remit of the Scottish government inquiry before the Holyrood summer recess. | Mr Neil said he hoped to announce the chair and remit of the Scottish government inquiry before the Holyrood summer recess. |
| Lindsay Bruce, from Thompsons Solicitors, who represents many of the women who have been harmed by surgical mesh implants, welcomed the government's action, adding: "We hope the Scottish government will make sure that, in future, any surgical implant like mesh is subject to the same kind of rigorous testing that new medicines go through before they're given to the public." |