Mesh Removal Procedures (National Health Service Funding)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 25 February 2021.

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Photo of Alex Neil Alex Neil Scottish National Party

Further to Jackson Carlaw’s question about the Britton review on mesh records, will the First Minister undertake that waiting for the results of that review will not in any way hold up a decision on national health service funding for women who need urgent mesh removal procedures to be undertaken by Dr Veronikis in the USA?

Photo of Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon Scottish National Party

I certainly undertake that we will not hold up any urgent treatment, or funding for urgent treatment, that any woman needs because we are waiting for the results of a review. The issues around getting access to Dr Veronikis in America, or his coming here, are longstanding, and there may be a variety of ways in which we need to support women. However, we will not hold up making appropriate decisions for women in order to wait for the conclusion of a review.