Bill will refund vaginal mesh private removal costs

Patients who have had private surgery to remove transvaginal mesh will be reimbursed under a bill just introduced to the Sottish Parliament.

The Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill will pave the way for a scheme to meet the costs of private mesh removal surgery, estimated at £16,000-£23,000 per case. 

Transvaginal mesh was used regularly in Scotland and elsewhere before 2014 to treat stress urinary incontinence and a condition called pelvic organ prolapse. Sometimes implanted through the vagina during surgery, many people who had such surgery later experienced serious pain and side effects, and from 2018 the treatment was no longer used in the NHS in Scotland. 

A report by Baroness Cumberlege, commissioned by the UK Government and published in July 2020, detailed patient experiences including a resulting loss of trust in the NHS. In September the Scottish Government accepted all the recommendations within devolved competence, including the establishment of a Patient Safety Commissioner. To ensure patients receive treatment they have confidence in, a procurement process to allow appropriately qualified surgeons outside the NHS to bid to perform removal for patients in Scotland is underway and will shortly conclude.

The new bill provides for those who have already undergone private treatment, estimated to be relatively few in number.

Last year, a £1m mesh fund opened for applications for those experiencing complications and earlier this year, the Case Record Review commenced, which is looking into concerns raised by patients about their medical records.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I absolutely recognise the serious distress that may have led women to using their own funds to seek mesh removal surgery privately. This legislation aims to help those who have undergone private treatment by allowing these past costs to be refunded.

“We recognise that some women have been let down by the NHS when they presented with complications and that is simply unacceptable.  We are working to build confidence in our Scottish services and the various projects underway, including the Case Record Review and our work with the Health and Social Care Alliance will support this. Nonetheless, alternative options will be available to those who feel unable to be treated in Scotland, achieving the ultimate objective on ensuring all people get the treatment and care that they need.”

Click here to access the bill and related papers.