by Eve Livingston
THE cancellation of a visit by a top vaginal mesh surgeon dominated First Minister’s Questions yesterday, as MSPs paid tribute to victims of the high-profile scandal.
The US-based Dr Dionysios Veronikis, an expert in mesh removal, had offered to visit Scotland to treat some of hundreds of women affected by botched vaginal mesh implants.
But the surgeon cancelled his trip last week, stating he did not have time for “games” and “interminable discussions.”
At FMQs yesterday, Conservative Jackson Carlaw alleged a “professional conspiracy” against the visit, while Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the doctor had written to Neil Findlay MSP about delays and disrespectful behaviour.
Mr Leonard said the doctor felt his visit had been “obstructed” by officials and senior surgeons in Scotland and accused Health Secretary Jeane Freeman of having “lost control” of the issue.
Responding to the allegations of a conspiracy, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was not aware of any evidence to back up the claim.
“If there is evidence I would certainly want to see that and be in a position to take action,” she said.
Answering Mr Leonard, the First Minister said that Ms Freeman had nothing to do with the cancellation of the visit and stated she was happy to speak with Dr Veronikis directly.
She said the trip had been cancelled following the delay of a pre-visit by Scottish doctors to the US, a condition necessary for the visit.
The chamber was in agreement about the scale of the issue, with Mr Leonard paying tribute to “women languishing in pain” while an emotional Mr Carlaw recounted the impact on a constituent’s life.
He asked the First Minister whether she agreed it had become “the greatest medical scandal of modern times.”
Ms Sturgeon said that she agreed “in general terms” and restated her support for victims.
“I do not underestimate in any way, shape or form the suffering, the stress, the pain and the anxiety many women have suffered because of this,” she said.
More than 1,000 women a year had received the implants in Scotland since the 1990s. But former health secretary Alex Neil called for their use to be suspended in 2014 after women complained of debilitating pain and complications.
The campaign group Scottish Mesh Survivors told a Holyrood committee at the time that they had experienced “life-changing side effects” following the procedure to treat incontinence and prolapse.
