Hansard

In closing for Scottish Labour, I begin by reflecting the strong consensus that we have heard in the debate. Stage 1 of the bill marks a significant milestone in a long, painful and difficult journey for so many. The cabinet secretary rightly opened by reflecting on those who have brought us to our consideration of the bill. I, too, pay tribute to the steadfast determination of the members of the Scottish Mesh Survivors group, who have bravely told their stories and campaigned for the bill and other measures to support all those affected.

Having heard some of the testimony in committee, I am struck by the bravery of the women who have recounted the trauma that they have experienced and lived with in order to effect change not only for themselves but for the many others who have had the same experience. As we have heard, they have repeated those stories time and time again—something both hugely difficult and extremely courageous, as I am sure we would all agree.

I join colleagues in paying tribute to the MSPs, past and present, who have worked on the issue and brought us to this point, particularly Jackson Carlaw, Alex Neil and Neil Findlay.

The convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Gillian Martin, spoke powerfully when she said that the bill

“could not, and does not, undo the ... trauma”

and that, for some, trust in our health service has been irreparably damaged. What she said about control over choices, over their bodies and over their lives for those women is key to all our considerations, whether in relation to the bill or more widely.

As deputy convener of the committee, I commend the work of all involved in scrutinising the bill and, like the convener, I thank all who gave evidence, particularly those with lived experience, who were supported by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.

Sandesh Gulhane spoke about the fact that many women simply have not been believed for a long time. He was right to highlight that many took extraordinary action to fund their treatment, spending savings or taking out costly loans—anything to stop the pain.

In line with the consensus that we find across the chamber, Scottish Labour supports the overall aims and principles of the bill. My colleague Carol Mochan spoke in Labour’s opening speech of the power of our democratic process. There is a duty on us all to use the power of the Parliament for the good of those whom we represent, and Alex Cole-Hamilton echoed that view in his powerful recollections of how the Parliament has approached the issue over the years.

We heard many powerful stories from colleagues of how the experience has impacted their constituents. Stuart McMillan spoke of Michelle, and raised the issue of the lengths to which women have had to go in order to fund treatment. He made an important point about crowdfunding, which was echoed by Craig Hoy. It is clear that further clarity is required for women who funded treatment via crowdfunding or other fundraising routes. The committee has called for clarity on that from the cabinet secretary, so I hope that the minister will begin to address the matter in closing the debate.

David Torrance spoke of his constituent’s life-changing—or rather, as his constituent very sadly put it, life-ending—experience; she felt that her life had come to an end. As Pam Gosal said, it is very difficult for us to hear such stories, but that particular story brought into sharp focus the reality for so many. Siobhian Brown did something similar in telling Isobel’s story. I hope that, whatever else we do in the Parliament, we always seek to do anything that we can to—at the very least—make life more liveable for any woman who is affected.

My colleague Katy Clark, and Alex Cole-Hamilton, raised the issue of the use of mesh in other procedures, and referred to other petitions that have come before the Parliament. I believe that those petitions merit the cabinet secretary’s attention, and I am sure that he will want to reflect on that issue more widely as we move forward.

It is clear from today’s debate that, although the principles of the bill enjoy broad support, further clarity is required in some areas as the bill process moves forward. I welcome the cabinet secretary’s response, as did Gillian Mackay and other members of the committee, on the issue of residency requirements, and I hope that he will look at the timeline requirements, as he committed to do in his opening speech. Gillian Mackay also referred to the so-called “in-betweeners” and mentioned that my colleague Jackie Baillie had raised the same point at committee, when she attended as my substitute. The point is that we want a system in which no one is left behind; that point has been well made by members on all sides of the chamber this afternoon, and I am sure that the minister will cover it in summing up.

At the close of the open debate, Martin Whitfield posed some important questions for the cabinet secretary on waiting times for mesh removal and the protests that are occurring in Glasgow today. I know that the minister will want to say something on that in concluding, in order to give Martin Whitfield and other colleagues confidence that those issues are being looked at in the round and that we are trying to get it right for absolutely everyone who has been affected by them.

We should do all that we can to hold on to the consensus that has been established not only in today’s debate on the bill, but over the many years leading up to this point. We must acknowledge that there is more to do. We must never forget the pain and suffering that has been caused; the duty on us, in the Parliament, to make an attempt at reparation; and the courage of women who have fought, despite their own trauma, to try to bring light to a very dark experience in the history of our health service. We must try to ensure that it never happens again.