MSP backs plans to reimburse women for mesh removal surgery
Stirling’s MSP has backed plans to reimburse women waiting for expensive mesh removal surgery.
The first phase of a bill allowing women to recoup the costs for vital transvaginal removal surgery if they have paid for the procedure privately after the measure was stopped in Scotland in 2018 following complaints from hundreds of women about painful side effects.
Mesh implants had been used to that point for certain conditions suffered by women following childbirth, including incontinence and prolapse.
Following the 2018 ruling, many women sought to have their implants removed by seeking out private healthcare, with costs for the surgery ranging from £16,000 to £23,000.
The proposed bill - the first stage of which was passed unanimously by MSPs last week - would see the Scottish Government setting up a scheme to pay back the costs of the surgery, as well as associated costs such as travel and hotel accommodation.
The latest data, which covers the period between 2006-07 and 2015-16, shows there were 871 women in Forth Valley undergoing transvaginal mesh surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
Stirling representative Evelyn Tweed, who sits on the health committee at Holyrood, gave a speech to the Parliament on Wednesday backing the move.
Following her speech, Ms Tweed said:“Over the last few months I have heard heart breaking testimonies detailing not just physical pain, but significant mental and emotional trauma as well.
“For some, this pain has been so severe that they have been forced to fund private health care through re-mortgages, bank loans, credit cards, or borrowing from friends and family. For these women, many who are still in substantial debt, time is of the essence.
“I am sure that every member in the Parliament will support this bill, and its fast tracking, so that these women don’t have to wait any longer. They have waited long enough.
“The Government has confirmed that women who arranged mesh removal surgery will be eligible to apply for reimbursement.
“I completely understand why for the women who have been through such traumatic experiences that compensation for corrective surgery might not be enough.
“We must do more to put right these wrongs and build back trust.”