Campaigners fighting for the “countless” women across Scotland who have been injured by mesh implants will meet the first minister today in a bid to make the Scottish Government take action.
Hundreds of women throughout the country have been left in serious pain after being given the treatment for stress urinary incontinence, or pelvic organ prolapse – conditions which are common after childbirth.
In 2014, the procedure was suspended by the then-health secretary Alex Neil following major concerns about some of the results of the treatment.
Today, women campaigning to highlight the problems caused by the implants will meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the situation.
They will also call on Ms Sturgeon’s government to bring Dr Dionysios Veronikis, a world-renowned and US-based mesh removal surgeon, to Scotland to help some of the affected women and train up surgeons.
Elaine Holmes, the leader of the campaign, said last night: “Scottish mesh survivors have long requested a meeting with the first minister in our fight for justice and we are pleased that this opportunity has now arisen.
“It is vital that the meeting is used to address a number of substantive issues where progress must be made, such as bringing Dr Veronikis to Scotland.
“I and countless other women have suffered life-changing injuries because of mesh, and we will be seeking a range of commitments on Monday where action must be taken by the Scottish Government.”
The meeting with the first minister follows efforts from politicians of all parties.
Jackson Carlaw MSP, interim leader of the Scottish Conservative party said: “These brave women have campaigned for years for justice.
“I’m delighted that they have finally secured their meeting with the First Minister, and I hope this now leads to real change.
“The work to raise the profile of this appeal, and the plight of the women whose lives have been so devastated by this procedure, has been a genuinely cross-party effort.”
SNP MSP Alex Neil said the meeting with the first minister would prove “critically important”.
He added: “The key objective is to ensure that everything possible is done to meet the needs of the women affected by botched procedures, in particular by obtaining the services of Dr Veronikis.
“His work on mesh is world-leading, and women in Scotland deserve the best.”