Falkirk MSP backs petition to ban medical mesh

The Falkirk East MSP is backing a petition is calling on the Scottish Government to suspend the use of controversial medical mesh devices.
Falkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald in the Scottish Parliament chamberFalkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald in the Scottish Parliament chamber
Falkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald in the Scottish Parliament chamber

Holyrood’s public petitions committee has been considering evidence on the issues highlighted by the document lodged in April 2014 by Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy on behalf of the Scottish Mesh Survivors’ Hear our Voice campaign.

The petition was brought forward after women experienced debilitating and life changing complications after undergoing the procedure.

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Urogynaecological meshes are used to treat stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

While most short-term clinical trials have found high efficacy and low complication rates for the most common mesh implants used for incontinence, there is a growing body of evidence that efficacy is lower and complication rates are higher for pelvic organ prolapse.

The procedure has now been temporarily banned in England.

Falkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald MSP, depute convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee, is backing the ban on mesh until the findings of the independent review set up to examine the controversial procedure are available and examined in full.

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Mr MacDonald said: “I am grateful to the petitioners, Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy, for bringing forward this petition and I commend their courage and commitment in the face of their trauma.

“Seeing and hearing the experiences of the many women we have heard from during our consideration of this petition was incredibly emotional, with the physical and mental impact plain to see.”