Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review

Baroness Bryan of Partick Excerpts

Wednesday 15th July 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bethell]

The noble Baroness is entirely right that transparency is essential in order to have a fair and equitable healthcare system. The GMC has already considered these areas and has moved a long way. The world has changed considerably since many of these horrific events took place, but I am sure there is more to be done and this recommendation, like others, will be considered seriously by the Government.

[Baroness Bryan of Partick (Lab) [V]]

My Lords, there is so much to be said about this excellent report, but I shall quote one devastating sentence on mesh implants, where it raises the question

“whether the modification of a device so that it required less skill to insert should have been the preferred option rather than improving the surgical skill base.”

Does the Minister agree that there is an urgent need for a robust surgical training programme for inserting mesh devices and, just as importantly, for their removal? Will resources be put in place for such a programme?

[Lord Bethell]

The noble Baroness is right to emphasise the dangers of the insertion of mesh. It is a procedure that is still taking place within the NHS. We are looking at bids for specialist units in relevant trusts to build up the kind of specialist skills necessary to deal with the problems that have emerged from mesh procedures that have gone wrong.