AN Ayrshire MSP has called for an end to surgical mesh being implanted in hernia patients in Scotland.

A Freedom of Information request by Labour's Katy Clark has revealed that one in 12 of all hernia patients in NHS Ayrshire and Arran who have been implanted with surgical mesh since 2015 have been readmitted to hospital due to complications.

And the West of Scotland MSP has backed a petition by constituents calling for the suspension of the use of surgical mesh until an independent review has been carried out.

It follows the recent public health scandal over the pain and suffering endured by many women across Scotland implanted with transvaginal mesh.

Surgical mesh is a loosely woven sheet which is used as either a permanent or temporary support for organs, reconstructive work or other tissues during surgery.

It took years of tireless campaigning by affected women before the Scottish Government took action, last year creating a mesh removal reimbursement scheme.

Irvine Times: MSP Katy Clark

Ms Clark said this week: "I fear we face yet another significant public health scandal relating to mesh implants – those used to treat patients with hernias in our NHS.

"Just as the women affected by transvaginal mesh were initially ignored, hernia patients experiencing real pain and suffering because of surgical mesh implants find themselves in a similar position now.

"Successive Scottish Government health secretaries and ministers have dismissed their concerns and even outright refused to meet them.

"Calls for an independent review into the scale of any issues they face have been repeatedly ignored.

"Even now, the Scottish Government continues to refuse to engage with this issue despite the powerful testimonies and campaigning of affected individuals.

"That’s why I recently submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to all of Scotland’s health boards to seek to establish the scale of the issue.

"Many declined to share information on the numbers of hernia patients who’ve been readmitted to hospital due to complications arising from the mesh.

"However, NHS Ayrshire and Arran was one of those which did – and the information makes for shocking reading.

"In total, eight per cent of all hernia patients in NHS Ayrshire and Arran implanted with surgical mesh since 2015 have been readmitted to hospital due to complications.

"This suggests there is an issue facing hernia patients which must be recognised and explored further by the Scottish Government.

"As ministers continue to refuse to engage on the issue, I will be working with campaigners to continue to raise awareness and to push for action from the Scottish Government."

The Scottish Government have been contacted for comment.