Vaginal mesh surgery halted as NHS accepts implant risks

VAGINAL mesh surgery carried out on the NHS must be stopped immediately, England’s chief medical officer has announced.

Jeremy Hunt, when he was health secretary, ordered a review into the safety of the devices in February, which advised NHS England to “pause” the use of implants for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

The Government has accepted the recommendation after evidence was gathered from women and their families affected by surgical mesh procedures. It was decided mesh would only be used as a “last resort” for “carefully selected patients”.

Prof Dame Sally Davies said: “For some patients, mesh has had unwanted and serious consequences, which is why guidance has been issued to ensure the right patients are offered the procedure, properly informed and operated on by expert surgeons.

“However, until we are clear this guidance is being properly implemented, ministers have accepted my recommendation to pause its use to ensure patients are receiving a high quality and consistent service.

“This will still be a treatment of last resort for some, so carefully selected patients will continue to have access to the operation in discussion with their consultant.”

Baroness Cumberlege, who chaired the review, advised that surgical mesh should not be used for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence until a set of conditions to “mitigate the risks” of injury had been met.

Kath Sansom, founder of Sling The Mesh, a campaign group, said: “This is incredible news and vindication for more than 6,100 members of Sling The Mesh maimed by this operation and then ignored, some for years.”