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Meeting of the Parliament 14 June 2012

14 Jun 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

PIP Silicone Breast Implants

Matheson, Michael SNP Falkirk West Watch on SPTV

The review is dealing specifically with the issues that arise from the PIP implant matter, and we should give the review group the opportunity to consider that matter in detail. As a result of that review, other areas of cosmetic surgery and other aspects of healthcare may be identified that have to be addressed, but we must allow the review to take place so that we can see what its findings are and consider whether any further action is required.

I have set out the context of regulation in the UK, in which we operate. I also want to consider NHS Scotland’s response and address the request for a Scottish public inquiry. Although the initial indications were that NHS Scotland had not used PIP silicone implants, NHS Lothian subsequently identified one patient who had been given PIP implants. That patient was offered and received from the board an appropriate clinical care package to address her concerns.

As a Government, we have been very clear that we expect private healthcare providers to offer their patients clinically appropriate packages of care, and we believe that they have an ethical responsibility to do so. NHS Scotland is committed to supporting all women whose private healthcare provider is unable or unwilling to provide appropriate care or who places unreasonable conditions on women in providing care.

The approach that NHS Scotland has taken is appropriate and is in line with the longstanding mechanism in our NHS on the provision of cosmetic surgery. Members will be aware that NHS Scotland does not provide cosmetic surgery on a routine basis. That is well established in the NHS’s published criteria.

When the Deputy First Minister met the PIP implant Scotland campaign last week, she made clear her view that, on the basis of the information that was available to her at that point, she was not convinced that a case has been made for a Scottish public inquiry. She made clear that other options are open that would help to reassure women in Scotland. That includes continuing to work with the campaign group here in Scotland.

I hope that members are assured that the Scottish Government takes the matter seriously and is working with the appropriate bodies to ensure that provisions are in place to prevent this type of thing from happening again. We continue to be committed to working with the PIP implant Scotland campaign and to addressing concerns and issues that the group raises, which we will pursue with the Department of Health and the MHRA, as appropriate.

We are also committed to ensuring that we consider the recommendations that come from the two further reviews and their implications for the NHS here in Scotland. We will consider where it is appropriate to take action in Scotland to address the concerns that are raised.

I move amendment S4M-03294.1, to leave out from first “further notes” to end and insert:

“notes that the Scottish Government is working with the UK Government on the three UK-wide reviews; welcomes the findings of the report, Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) silicone breast implants: Review of the actions of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Department of Health, which found that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority took appropriate action based on the information made available to it; looks forward to the outcome of the expert group looking at the rupture rate data and toxicology testing led by Sir Bruce Keogh, which is due to report later this month, and the review looking at the regulation of the cosmetic industry also being led by Sir Bruce Keogh, which will report by March 2013, and commends NHSScotland for the action taken by it to ensure that it responded appropriately by making information and advice available to women and ensuring that, where the private healthcare sector was unable or unwilling to provide a clinically appropriate package of care, NHSScotland provided appropriate care.”

10:46

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Meeting of the Parliament 14 June 2012

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