Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 19 February 2025
PE2128, on increasing funding for post-mastectomy, or delayed, breast reconstructions and ensuring that waiting time information is accurate, has been lodged by Christy Esslemont. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide additional funding to reduce waiting times for post-mastectomy, or delayed, breast reconstructions in Scotland and to assess whether the communications section of its waiting times guidance is being followed by health boards.
As the SPICe briefing explains, breast reconstruction can take place at the same time as a mastectomy, which is known as immediate breast reconstruction, or it can take place at a later point, which is known as delayed breast reconstruction. In July 2024, £30 million of targeted additional funding was allocated by the Scottish Government to health boards to address long waits across a range of treatment areas. Some health boards received funding specifically to address backlogs of mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction surgery, but delayed reconstruction surgery was not included in the funding allocation. Indeed, I have recollections of such issues being raised in the chamber.
The Scottish Government’s response to the petition states that it is currently working with health boards on developing a plan for patients waiting for delayed reconstructive surgery. However, the SPICe briefing states that waiting times for breast reconstruction surgery have not been routinely reported since 2020. In October 2024, the First Minister stated that the Scottish Government was currently
“exploring issues on the quality of”
existing
“data”
so that it can
“determine what information can be published.”—[Official Report, 10 October 2024; c 20.]
The Scottish Government’s written submission explains that there are two types of breast reconstruction—implant based and free flap—and that although implant-based reconstruction is generally a short procedure, the free-flap procedure involves complex surgery requiring highly specialised plastic surgery services and can take many hours to complete. Indeed, in some cases, up to four theatre sessions can be required. The procedure also requires skilled aftercare and intensive monitoring.
The submission states that, because of a growing volume of cancer and clinically urgent cases, efforts have been concentrated on treating patients with trauma or after cancers. The Scottish Government also states that it intends to allocate funding from the 2025-26 budget—that is, the budget that we are currently considering—to delayed reconstructive breast surgery.
Do members have any comments or suggestions for action?