Alex Neil

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 17 Jul 2020

Following a recommendation from National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) and NHS Board Chief Executives, the Scottish Government approved the establishment of a Complex Mesh Removal Surgical Service supported with over £1.3 million of Scottish Government funding for 2020-21.
The service will be delivered by a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) located within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and will provide holistic assessment and surgical management for women experiencing complications from vaginal or abdominal mesh insertion for urinary incontinence and prolapse.
While NHS Scotland continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the service will employ a phased introduction in the first year in offering assessment and treating this group of patients with complex needs.

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 16 Jun 2020

The Scottish Government has progressed plans for a £1 million fund to help support women who have experienced mesh complications. This scheme will be open for applications from 1 July 2020.
To apply for a one-off £1,000 payment, women must have received a transvaginal mesh implant, either from or on behalf of an NHS Scotland Health Board, and have experienced complications as a result of that implant.
Women are entitled to claim if they have, at their own expense, had to pay for emotional or practical support. This could include, purchasing self-care items like incontinence pads or if they have had to undertake considerable travel as a result of their condition.
The scheme will be run by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and application forms will soon be available online via NHS Inform at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/non-surgical-procedures/transvaginal-mesh-implants
Applications must be completed any point up to 31 May 2021 to ensure confirmation and payment ahead of the closing date of 30 June 2021. Should an eligible applicant be unable to complete an application form, their representative can do so on their behalf.
The Scottish Government will make every effort to ensure that affected women are made aware of this fund.
It is important to stress again that the scheme is not intended to represent compensation for any perceived wrongdoing by the NHS, Health Boards in Scotland nor any of their employees. Officials are communicating with the Department of Work and Pensions to confirm that this payment will not replace any benefits for anyone who is unable to work as a result of their condition. We will also communicate with HMRC about the intention behind the fund and its treatment for tax purposes.
The views of women themselves have been key to our approach and we hope this fund will help those women affected.
 

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 20 May 2020

The Scottish Government has heard – first hand – about the physical and emotional impact that mesh complications have had on those affected, as well as their families.
Having listened carefully, we have progressed plans for a £1 million fund to help support women with complications, and who had mesh implanted by or on behalf of a Scottish Health Board.
Successful applicants will receive a one-off payment of £1,000 to cover costs associated with emotional or practical support as they see most appropriate.
The views of women themselves were key to our approach in deciding how best to use the funds available. The Health and Social Care Alliance therefore asked a sample of women how they felt the fund should be allocated. The views expressed, including that each woman should be offered the same amount and that there should be no means testing, have been reflected.
The scheme, which will be run by NHS National Services Scotland, will open for applications at the start of July and run until the end of June next year.
It is important to stress that the scheme is not intended to represent compensation for any perceived wrongdoing by the NHS, nor to replace Department of Work and Pensions benefits for anyone who is unable to work as a result of their condition. Nonetheless, we hope this fund will help those women affected.
Further information on precise eligibility criteria and how to apply will be made available closer to the scheme opening date.
 

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 2 Jun 2020

It is important that we acknowledge the role and sacrifice made by key workers and others during the COVID-19 pandemic. The First Minister stresses this in her daily briefings and also notes the personal loss that is experienced by friends and family to those who have tragically lost their lives.
The Scottish Government’s focus is currently on tackling the disease, its impact on our society and how we might safely ease the country’s current lockdown restrictions. However in the fullness of time, we will want to consider what would be an appropriate and meaningful way for the nation to pay its respects.
 

Answer · Ben Macpherson · 7 Apr 2020

Our priority is to ensure that those directly impacted by current events are protected and we have asked councils to ensure that recovery proceedings are not initiated in these circumstances. The well-established Council Tax Reduction Scheme means nobody has to endure hardship or suffering because they have lost their ability to pay their council tax, including those impacted directly or indirectly by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We have already set aside an extra £50 million to fund increased demand for Council Tax Reduction and Social Security benefits, as part of our £350 million package of support for communities.

Answer · Ben Macpherson · 23 Mar 2020

The following table sets out the net expected savings in Non-Domestic Rates Income that will result from the introduction of the Intermediate Property Rate in 2020-21, broken down by property class. These estimates are representative of Non-Domestic Rates policy as at Budget time, and do not reflect more recent changes in Non-Domestic Rates policy.
Property class
Cost savings from introduction of Intermediate Property Rate (£m)
Advertising
0.01
Care Facilities
0.05
Communications
0.03
Cultural
0.02
Education and Training
0.59
Garages and Petrol Stations
0.15
Health and Medical
0.16
Hotels
0.31
Industrial Subjects
1.77
Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.
0.21
Offices
1.27
Other
0.11
Petrochemical
0.01
Public Houses
0.36
Public Service Subjects
0.30
Quarries, Mines, etc.
0.04
Religious
0.01
Shops
1.84
Sporting Subjects
0.01
Statutory Undertaking
0.08
Total
7.33
Source: Scottish Assessors' Valuation Roll; Local Authority Billing Information