Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil said a lack of trust in official figures on women who suffer problems with mesh implants was behind his decision to request their suspension by the NHS in Scotland.
The health secretary said he is “proud Scotland has taken this stance” and believes the country is “leading the way on what is a significant global problem.”
Jeremy Hunt is to meet with Scottish MPs who are calling on him to follow in the country’s footsteps and suspend mesh implants across England.
Neil said: “After speaking to the medical watchdogs, my own health officials and the extremely courageous women who have been through so much, I decided I did not wish to take the risk that one more woman could be injured.
“I was advised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency that the majority of the women’s operations were successful. Official figures suggest a low rate of problems.
“But after meeting those women and listening to their stories, I made up my mind what I needed to do.
Mesh implants are mainly used following childbirth, to treat a prolapsed bladder or relieve incontinence. Around 1,850 women undergo in the procedure in Scotland every year, but hundreds of claims regarding the implants are due before the Scottish courts within the next year. Cases are already underway in America and Canada, where authorities have issued several warnings to hospitals.
Neil continued: “I came to the conclusion that we must suspend these procedures until we know why so many are going wrong. And we must find out why doctors were not reporting these complications.
“Advice has gone out that they must – must – report each and every adverse incident, not just for mesh but for every procedure.
“These women are suffering significant, life-changing complications. Patient safety is my No1 priority and the benchmark must be: Are we doing all we can to ensure the safety of these women?”