Women who have paid for private treatment for complications relating to mesh implants could be reimbursed by the NHS, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has pledged.

Ms Freeman has backed meeting “travel, medical and other reasonable expenses” that have already been incurred from public funds, though the final decision will be left to the winners of the May Scottish Parliament elections.

The Health Secretary said “exceptional arrangements” were needed for mesh patients on account of the trauma they had suffered.

Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay, who has campaigned on behalf of patients, described the commitment as a “major breakthrough”.

healthandcare.scot reported in January that mesh patients could be offered publicly-funded treatment outside NHS Scotland.

There is continuing controversy over treatment for women affected by the procedures, often used to treat incontinence following childbirth, which have been linked to painful, often permanent complications after the implant disintegrated or shifted.

Use of the implants was halted in 2018.

A single service for mesh complication patients across Scotland was then launched in August last year, after a Scottish government report found there had been variations in the treatment offered by different NHS boards.

It follows MSPs voting for the ‘early prospect of full transvaginal mesh removal surgery being undertaken by surgeons who enjoy the full confidence of the women affected, fully funded by the NHS’.

Options on the table include referral to services in England, private sector treatment or surgery abroad.

A tender process inviting external providers to bid for the opportunity to provide a service is already underway.

Today’s commitment would be contained in a proposed parliamentary bill that would be introduced as a “priority” after the May elections if the SNP are returned to power.

All other parties in the Scottish Parliament already back the proposals.

Jeane Freeman announced the development today in a letter to MSPs on two Scottish parliament committees.

“I recognise, and know from meeting women who have gone to these very great lengths, often involving international travel and by using their own savings, that they have only done that because of the appallingly painful and debilitating complications that they have suffered,' the letter states.

“The government does consider that, in these circumstances, it is appropriate for public funds to be used to reimburse individuals who have in the past made payments from their own funds for such surgery, and for the costs of relevant travel and other expenses.

“The Scottish government is committed to ensuring that we can reimburse women in these circumstances.”

Payments would likely be made by amending the rules for the up in May last year – with decisions on eligibility yet to be worked out.

On twitter Neil Findlay MSP, who is standing down in May, said it was a “major breakthrough”.

He told healthandcare.scot: ‘This is excellent news and comes after years of hard campaigning.

“Mesh injured women do not believe they can secure safe, mesh removal in Scotland or indeed the UK, they must be funded to secure such care outside of these islands where they deem that to be their best option.

“The next parliament must legislate to allow that to happen.”

Jeane Freeman said: “We absolutely recognise the serious distress which may have led to women using their own funds to pay for private surgery. As the Scottish government does not currently have the legal power to refund these past costs we propose introducing legislation in the next parliament, subject to the outcome of the election. 

“NHS Scotland is also inviting tenders to provide mesh removal surgery outside the NHS in the future for women who would prefer that option. We have decided to make these exceptional arrangements for surgery because of the trauma women have suffered as a result of mesh complications. 

“Surgery carried out through this process either in the UK or overseas will of course be free of charge to patients with necessary travel costs paid for.

“Women who have suffered painful side effects from vaginal mesh implants must get the best possible care and we are also funding a new NHS Scotland national specialist centre where surgeons are operating now to remove mesh where this is appropriate.

“The development of the centre, and the way it operates, continues to be the subject of detailed consultation with affected women.”

Read more: New qualification proposed for mesh surgeons; Mesh women could be offered care outside Scotland; Call for guarantees on new mesh service surgeons

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