The use of transvaginal mesh implants in Scotland continues to come under scrutiny, with the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee considering a petition submitted by the Scottish Mesh Survivors - "Hear Our Voice" campaign.
Speaking in front of the Committee, Health Secretary Alex Neil announced that he has asked the Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to write to all health boards to ask them to consider the suspension of polypropylene mesh medical devices.
He also announced that a Scottish-based independent review would be set up to report on the procedure. This review will be due to report at the beginning of 2015, taking account of the European Commission’s study on these devices.
He previously had pressed the UK regulatory body for medical devices, MHRA, for answers on a way forward for the use of mesh implants, in light of the potential issues some women are experiencing with this treatment.
“I can confirm that in the last year the CMO has written three times to all GPs, through Medical Directors, alerting them to the possibility that women may suffer complications following insertion of these mesh implants, and that all adverse events should be reported to the MHRA,” explained Mr Neil.
“I do not have authority to withdraw these products but I have asked the CMO to write to all Health Boards to consider the suspension of these services until further evidence becomes available early next year,” he added.
“Where individual women and their clinicians agree on the need for a particular service this will still be available,” he concluded.
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