MSPs have raised concerns over the independence of a review group looking into the safety of mesh implants.

The issue was brought to Holyrood's chamber after Olive McIlroy and Elaine Holmes, who both suffered severe complications following mesh implant surgery, resigned from the group at the weekend.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay said their action indicated the review had been "completely compromised" and can no longer regarded as independent.

"Olive and Elaine resigned from the review at the weekend because secret meetings have been taking place for the last 10 months from which they were excluded, the draft report they signed up to in October 2015 has been fundamentally rewritten and overturned, key information has been removed from the report, critical new evidence has been omitted and there is no mention whatsoever of the reclassification of mesh by the European Union," he said.

Mr Findlay later called for Health Secretary Shona Robison to give a ministerial statement on the issue.

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw told the chamber he had been contacted by others within the review group who are "astonished at the wholesale removal of certain chapters from this report".

He said: "The eyes of the world are on Scotland, we are the only government, the only country undertaking a fundamental review of this procedure, and I really have to hope and believe that this report will give justice to the women concerned and will still truly be independent, because fundamental questions are currently being asked as to whether we can have confidence in that."

Transvaginal tapes and meshes are used in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

Thousands of women in Scotland have been treated using the implants but some have suffered painful and debilitating complications.

In June 2014, then health secretary Alex Neil asked health boards to suspend the use of the implants after a campaign by women who have suffered serious side effects.

The independent review was also set up, with its interim report published in October 2015.

Its final report is due to be published in the spring.

Ms Robison said she was concerned about Ms McIlroy and Ms Holmes' resignations.

She told MSPs she intends to meet with the women and with the chair of the review group separately.

"I want to reassure Neil Findlay and others that I will listen very, very carefully indeed to the concerns raised by Olive McIlroy and Elaine Holmes," Ms Robison said.