Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), whereby a new valve is fed into the heart through a small incision in the groin or chest is to be made available to Scottish patients who are high-risk for open-heart surgery.

TAVI will be available at a specialist centre at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, so Scottish patients will receive the treatment in Scotland and will no longer have to travel south.

The new Health Secretary Alex Neil said:-
"There is a growing body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of TAVI, and that is why I am pleased to announce that we will now be able to provide this service in Scotland."

Source:- The Scottish Government