This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27884794
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| About 1,500 women have the procedure in Scotland every 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 a Eurpoean Commission 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. | 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. | 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. | |
| "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 a safety inquiry. | The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign group had previously called for a suspension, pending a safety inquiry. |