Falkirk women urged to claim back costs of vaginal mesh removal surgery

Michelle Thomson, Falkirk East MSP, has welcomed the announcement that the Transvaginal Mesh Removal Reimbursement Scheme is to open on June 6.

She is urging any woman who has had to pay for surgery to claim their money back through the scheme.

The scheme, administered through NHS National Services Scotland, will be open to those whose treatment arrangements are in place by June 3. Any patient wishing treatment to be funded by the NHS will be seen through the Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Services in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, while any woman expressing a preference to be treated outwith Scotland will be able to request a referral to one of the NHS England specialist centres.

Ms Thomson said: “The opening of this reimbursement scheme is a significant milestone in this journey for women in Falkirk East constituency and across Scotland. The impact of these procedures on women is clear, and it is right that steps are being taken to redress the situation to give those affected a sense of normality back.

“There is an obvious need to ensure that any woman impacted has the right support in place, and I believe that the complex removal service, and the ability to request a referral to a specialist service outside of Scotland is the right approach.

“I would encourage any woman who has had to pay for removal of these devices to apply through the NHS National Services Scotland website when applications open on Monday.”