Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the written Answer of 22 July 2020 to Question no. 73681 on specialist treatment centres for victims of the vaginal mesh scandal, if he will make it his policy to (a) reimburse and (b) otherwise defray the reasonable relevant (i) travel, (ii) accommodation, (iii) prescription and (iv) medical appliance costs incurred by NHS patients having to travel substantially out of area to obtain specialist treatment; and if he will list those treatment centres (A) already and (B) scheduled to be established, together with the operational dates in each case.  [146740]

[Due for Answer on 4 February. Answered on 17 February.] 

HOLDING ANSWER: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available. 

ANSWER

The Minister of State for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety (Ms Nadine Dorries): From 1 April 2021, the following trusts will provide specialised services for women with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse:

• - Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• - Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• - Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
• - Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• - University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• - University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
• - Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

NHS England will establish services in South East and South West regions as soon as possible.

All health care costs associated with treatment are met by the National Health Service. This includes in-patient services, medical assessment, treatment, surgery if appropriate, outpatient services and follow-up. There are no current plans to provide for repayments of travel expenses or accommodation outside the scope of the existing Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme which is provided for in the NHS (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003. The Government also has no plans to review or amend the list of medical conditions that provide entitlement to exemption from prescription charges.