HEALTH secretary Alex Neil’s medical
advisers held secret talks with a multinational firm making controversial mesh
implants.
The Scottish Government’s deputy chief
medical officer Dr Frances Elliot and public health consultant Dr Sarah Davies
met Johnson & Johnson
in July.
Weeks after the meeting, Neil told victims
he feared being sued by
manufacturers if he suspended mesh surgery.
A Sunday Mail campaign has revealed the agony of thousands of women
who underwent mesh ops for stress incontinence and pelvic prolapse.
Labour’s shadow health secretary Neil
Findlay said: “Directly after this secret meeting, Alex Neil publicly admitted
there were serious flaws
in reporting adverse side-effects, which was more than enough to take
action. But he refused to suspend the use of mesh, telling victims he feared
he’d be sued by manufacturers.
“I’ll be making it my business to find out
what was discussed at that meeting and why the health secretary seems more
scared about offending manufacturers than protecting the health of hundreds of
women.”
The Scottish Government claimed 2915 women
have had mesh surgery since 2007 but figures from individual health boards show
more than 10,500 had the implants.
Mesh campaigner Elaine Holmes, from Newton
Mearns, near Glasgow, said: “So many lives have been destroyed by mesh
implants, the pressure on NHS resources is going to be enormous thanks to the
same manufacturers that officials are having secret meetings with.”
Findlay said: “We’re potentially facing
the biggest legal action
in Scotland. If mesh manufacturers are found liable, we should be
pursuing them to pick up the cost of trying to repair the damage done to so
many women as well as picking up our legal costs.”
Victims’ lawyer Cameron Fyfe said: “We’ve
lodged around 100 of the planned 400 court actions for damages in the Court of
Session and NHS Scotland are named with manufacturers.”
The Scottish Government said: “Officials
held an informal meeting with Johnson & Johnson and the Association of
British Healthcare Industries.
“An update was provided on the requests
made by the women affected by mesh complications.”
Lucinda Macari, of Johnson & Johnson,
said: “At the meeting, we affirmed our commitment to working with UK regulatory
authorities and professional societies to ensure the safety of our products.”
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