Mesh Fund

That the Parliament notes the calls for the Scottish Government to establish a fund that would compensate mesh-injured women for the costs associated with living with their injury; understands that a significant number have experienced a major loss of income as a direct consequence of serious physical and, in many cases, mental ill-health issues related to their transvaginal mesh implant, leaving them unable and unfit to work; believes that relationship breakdowns as a result of these injuries has also affected many, resulting in households experiencing the loss of around half of their income; understands that, in some cases, partners of mesh-injured women have had to retire from work early so that they can offer vital care to their partner; acknowledges that many mesh-injured women are often refused disability benefits, such as personal independence payments, resulting in insufficient income to cover basic essentials related to their disability, including continence products, transport costs to and from hospital and laundry, bedding and clothing costs; recognises that a number have used their life savings or have borrowed from friends and family to travel to the US for full mesh removal performed by the expert surgeon, Dr Veronikis; notes the calls for the full reimbursement of costs to the women who travelled abroad to receive surgery and treatment; further notes the view that it should be right and just for the Scottish Government to compensate women across the country who have experienced financial loss or hardship as a consequence of their mesh implants; understands that women across Scotland, including in Lothian, were unaware of the risks associated with transvaginal mesh and were offered no alternatives, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to provide mesh-injured women with the help and support that it believes they urgently need and deserve.