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| 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. | |
| Ministers are also setting up an independent review of the devices, used to ease incontinence in women with bladder problems. | Ministers are also setting up an independent review of the devices, used to ease incontinence in women with bladder problems. |
| Some of the 1,500 people who receive implants in Scotland each year suffer painful and debilitating complications. | Some of the 1,500 people who receive implants in Scotland each year suffer painful and debilitating complications. |
| Mr Neil's comments came after MSPs heard evidence from affected women. | Mr Neil's comments came after MSPs heard evidence from affected women. |
| The health secretary told MSPs he had asked Scotland's acting chief medical officer to write to health boards with a request to immediately suspend the procedures until further evidence from both the Scottish government review, and an EU investigation into mesh implants, became available next year. | The health secretary told MSPs he had asked Scotland's acting chief medical officer to write to health boards with a request to immediately suspend the procedures until further evidence from both the Scottish government review, and an EU investigation into mesh implants, became available next year. |
| He 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. | |
| 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 | |
| "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." | |
| Court action | |
| 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. | |
| The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign group had previously called for a suspension, pending a safety inquiry. |