Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-22635, in the name of Jeane Freeman, on the Baroness Cumberlege report. I invite all members who wish to ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport (Jeane Freeman) SNP

I start by welcoming the independent medicines and medical devices safety review—the Cumberlege report—and the opportunity in this Government debate to discu...

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

How many mesh women have been involved in the co-production and co-design of that service?

Jeane Freeman SNP

I was about to move on to that. Through the involvement of the Health and Social Care Alliance, which was actively involved in canvassing women’s views and w...

Neil Findlay Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Jeane Freeman SNP

I will in a moment. That will be in place as soon as those centres are established and will provide the opportunity to support advances in knowledge, techni...

Neil Findlay Lab

There is a multitude of questions about that service. The women themselves are asking those questions. They do not have faith in the way that the service has...

Jeane Freeman SNP

I accept the core of what Mr Findlay says about the importance of women having faith in the specialist service. Undoubtedly, one of the harms that has been d...

Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I highlight my entry in the register of members’ interests on an interest in health technologies. I am grateful for the opportunity to open for the Scottish...

Neil Findlay Lab

Is it not an indication of the extent of the scandal that, when Alex Neil did implement a suspension, health boards continued to implant mesh in another 1,00...

Donald Cameron Con

I accept that there were issues around that. However, my point is that three MSPs from different political parties getting together to play a role in getting...

Jeane Freeman SNP

Does Mr Cameron acknowledge that, as far as the Scottish Government and I, as the cabinet secretary, are concerned, the offer to Dr Veronikis remains open? T...

Neil Findlay Lab

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I have a copy of a letter that was sent to the cabinet secretary six days ago. She has made no reference to it in he...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

Mr Findlay, I see from my list that you have been put forward to open for Labour in the debate, so that will be your opportunity to contribute to the debate ...

Donald Cameron Con

Scottish Mesh Survivors has been clear; it took a firm view about the services of Dr Veronikis and the need for him to take action. Our amendment makes it c...

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I thank Baroness Cumberlege for her excellent report. It stands in stark contrast to the discredited sham of a review that was conducted in Scotland a few ye...

Jeane Freeman SNP

Does the member accept that, in response to those situations, we have established an independent case review that will, using senior clinicians from outwith ...

Neil Findlay Lab

No. I am asking whether members would trust a surgeon who had caused such devastation to their lives to be the person to remove the mesh. I certainly would n...

Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green) Green

I know that all members will wish to pay tribute to all the people who have been affected by the failings in our health system as listed in the review. They ...

Neil Findlay Lab

Will the member accept that, given that the pressure for a suspension has come from the women themselves, it would be wise to pause for the questions to be a...

Alison Johnstone Green

Yes—many questions regarding the service remain, and I have some sympathy with the suggestion that there should be a temporary suspension to ensure that ther...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

I, too, recognise the work of Jackson Carlaw, Neil Findlay and Alex Neil on this issue. It has spanned my entire career in Parliament and has been awe inspir...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We will now move to the open debate. We are already way over time and later contributions may have to be curtailed. Meanwhile, speeches should be up to six m...

Alex Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) SNP

There are very few issues that unite all five parties in the Parliament, but all three issues that the Cumberlege report addresses significantly add to that ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Could you come to a close, please.

Alex Neil SNP

Finally, the patient decision aid should be used much more widely. Although MHRA reform is a reserved matter, all devolved governments should be heavily invo...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I begin by pointing members to my register of interests, specifically my interest in healthcare technologies. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak ...

Jeane Freeman SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Mr Whittle cannot take an intervention; he is just closing.

Brian Whittle Con

Six years is too long. If the Covid crisis has taught us anything, it is that if there is a will, moves can be made swiftly. It is time that the women who su...