Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill
Overview
Some people have paid private healthcare costs to have their transvaginal mesh implant removed.
This Bill would allow the Government to set up a scheme which could pay back those costs to people. This could include travel costs and hotel accommodation paid for in relation to the surgery.
The scheme could also cover other details, such as:
- who can apply
- how to apply
- time limits on applying
Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill as introduced (258KB, pdf) posted 23 June 2021
The Bill was passed on 25 January 2022 and became an Act on 03 March 2022
Contents
Overview
Some people have paid private healthcare costs to have their transvaginal mesh implant removed.
This Bill would allow the Government to set up a scheme which could pay back those costs to people. This could include travel costs and hotel accommodation paid for in relation to the surgery.
The scheme could also cover other details, such as:
- who can apply
- how to apply
- time limits on applying
Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill explanatory notes
Why the Bill was created
Transvaginal mesh is a medical device that was used regularly in Scotland before 2014. It was also used in the rest of the UK and across the world.
This device was used to treat stress urinary incontinence and a condition called pelvic organ prolapse. Sometimes it was implanted through a person’s vagina during surgery.
Many people who had vaginal mesh surgery later experienced serious pain and side effects, and some needed surgery to remove the mesh.
From 2018 it was no longer used in the NHS in Scotland.
Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill policy memorandum