A fair hearing for victims of controversial surgery

“After meeting with the women and listening carefully to all they told me, I went away and carefully considered what to do before calling for the suspension and independent review.

“I have never doubted I did the right thing by calling for a review. I stand by my decision and I’d make the same decision today.

“In fact, the evidence that has since emerged from all over the world, coupled with the opportunity I’ve now had to see and examine those implants, makes me even angrier, more shocked and more determined that we get to the truth.”

In the wake of the controversial surgery, the NHS in Scotland is being sued by more than 400 injured women – making it the biggest medical negligence claim north of the Border. And Mr Neil believes that if manufacturers are found to be at fault they should not only pay compensation for the ruined lives but for the ongoing treatment of patients.

He added: “Why should the NHS bear the burden?

“The evidence that has since emerged from all over the world, coupled with the opportunity I’ve had to see and examine those implants, makes me even angrier, more shocked and more determined to get to the truth.

“I am appalled at the agony of women whose lives have been ruined.

“And if their allegations about the report being compromised are correct it merits a special investigation and if anyone has withheld evidence they should face discipline. Our job is to protect the public and ensure everyone has the best and safest treatment our great NHS has to offer.”

According to Mr Neil, the only way to prevent similar scandals in the future is to introduce mandatory medical reporting of all complications associated with mesh.

He added: “Without that, how are we ever going to give women all the facts, the full information, so they can make informed choices.”

Mr Neil believes his successor will do the right thing.

He said: “I have every confidence Shona will make the right decisions.

“I’m sure, like me, she will be truly appalled at what has happened and she will want to find out whether the allegations raised by the women are IT is rare for any politician to win much credit from the curmudgeonly Holyrood press pack but Alex Neil is certainly making us all sit up and take notice.

The fierce discipline that has been the hallmark of the SNP’s decade in power has left little room for the party’s top performers to dissent from the Bute House view.

For years the best hope of a minister deviating from the script was a wayward comment at a conference fringe event or a line buried in a dusty trade publication.

Freed from the shackles of being “on message”, it is refreshing to hear Neil speak his mind.

First on Brexit – Neil is unofficial spokesman for the estimated 400,000 Yes voters who have balked at Nicola Sturgeon’s EU love-bombing – and now on the whitewash concerns over the mesh inquiry he ordered.

Neil, popular across all the benches, is no rent-a-quote as he picks his battles and remains loyal to the cause of independence.

But by casting a pebble in the outwardly calm waters of the SNP-run Scottish government he is doing us all a favour.

Everyone needs a critical friend in their life and in politics it these people who can hold greater sway than the opposition.

So for the thousands of women in agony every day as a result of the mesh scandal, lets hope the Scottish government listens to its former respected health secretary. true. She has the qualities to do the right thing, and I sincerely hope she does.

“Shona may take a different decision from the one I have suggested, but I believe she will want to see a proper, untainted review.”

Ms Robison has indicated she will make a ministerial announcement on the mesh issue on Thursday.

But it’s unclear what exactly the announcement might say.

Last night, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “The chair of the independent review has fully considered all the evidence and will publish her report shortly.

“This is a highly complex and technical subject area and the Scottish Mesh Survivors Group will remain at the centre of this crucial work.” MORE young Scots could be pushed into homelessness due to a UK Government housing benefit cut, Angela Constance has said.

The social security secretary said changes will remove housing support for most 18 to 21-year-olds receiving Universal Credit, and the Scottish Welfare Fund will be extended to support those hit.

Ms Constance said: “It is very disappointing, yet unsurprising, that the UK Government has insisted on pushing through these shameful changes to housing benefit.”