Wales joins suspension of mesh surgery

The whole of the UK has now suspended the use of mesh implants.

Following the six-year campaign started by Scottish victims, England, Northern Ireland, and now Wales, have stopped using the implants to treat bladder problems and pelvic organ prolapse.

Elaine Holmes of Scottish Mesh Survivors said thousands more women will now be spared the life changing injuries. Their campaign led to Scotland becoming the first country in the world to suspend plastic polypropylene implants, in 2014, when former Health Secretary Alex Neil listened to the women’s concerns.

Elaine said: “Alex Neil’s insight and recognition that the crippled women he saw were all the evidence he needed to recognise mesh implants were inflicting dangerous injuries was the start of a global awareness these devices were unsafe.

“While nothing could be done to change what had happened to us, we were determined to do all we could to stop other women suffering.

“Our campaign has been arduous, but we’re delighted all of the UK will be safer from now on.”

Scotland’s mesh suspension is not as robust as elsewhere in the UK, with some implants still being used.

MSP Neil Findlay is calling for Scotland to tighten its suspension. He said: “Scotland must keep up and protect women.”