Transvaginal Mesh Fund - Applications to the Scottish Government Mesh Fund invited from 1 July 2020

The Scottish Government announced, in its 2020–2021 budget, that a £1 million fund has been created to support women who have been affected by transvaginal mesh complications. One-off payments of £1,000 will be made to successful applicants.

To be eligible to apply for payment, applicants must have:
received a transvaginal mesh implant either from or on behalf of an NHS Scotland Health Board, and
experienced complications resulting from that implant.

The payment is intended to help those affected with costs that they have incurred in relation to emotional and/or practical support, which they sought to deal with the difficulties they encountered as a result of the mesh implant. This could include, for example, costs that you have incurred through the purchase of feminine hygiene products, costs associated with travel that you have required to undertake as a result of your condition, or costs associated with therapy or emotional support sessions that you required to attend as a result of your condition.

As part of the application, you are required to provide evidence that, firstly, you have had a transvaginal mesh implanted, and that the surgery was provided on, or on behalf of, an NHS Scotland Health Board. This can be demonstrated by way of a letter from your GP or another healthcare professional, or by way of another piece of correspondence from the Health Board which demonstrates that you have suffered from complications (such as a referral letter). The evidence must include the date and the hospital in which your transvaginal mesh surgery took place.

Secondly, you must provide evidence that you have experienced complications, as a result of your transvaginal mesh surgery. This can be demonstrated, again, by way of a piece of correspondence from any healthcare professional who has supported you in dealing with the difficulties that you have experienced.

Applications can be made from 1 July 2020, and the deadline for applying to the fund is 31st May 2021. As this is a one-off fund, no further applications will be accepted beyond this date. Successful applicants will then be notified, and payment will be made by 30th June 2021. Please note, you may only apply once to the fund.

If you have experienced complications as a result of a transvaginal mesh implant, and would like to apply to the Scottish Government Mesh Fund to receive a £1,000 payment, please click here for further information and the application form.