Ten years ago, what began as a small group of women raising their voices against an invisible epidemic turned into one of the UK’s most powerful grassroots campaigns for patient safety and medical justice.

Today, as Sling The Mesh marks its 10th anniversary, we celebrate a decade of courage, compassion, and relentless campaigning that has changed lives – and policy – forever.

From Silence to Storm

In 2015, few people had even heard of pelvic mesh implants, let alone the devastating complications they could cause. Women were told their pain was “normal,” their concerns dismissed, their injuries hidden behind a wall of medical gaslighting.

But thanks to the bravery of those speaking out, Sling The Mesh became a movement. What started as a few brave voices turned into a roar that could no longer be ignored.

Supporting all mesh-injured people

While the campaign began by amplifying the voices of women harmed by pelvic mesh, it became clear very early on that surgical mesh was used for many more purposes than gynaecological conditions. Sling The Mesh now supports both women and men injured by all types of surgical mesh, including:

• ·        Pelvic mesh used for prolapse repair
• ·        Bladder slings for urinary incontinence in both women and men
• ·        Rectopexy mesh for bowel complications
• ·        Hernia mesh, widely used but under-scrutinised – an area needing much more awareness
• ·        Breast reconstruction mesh, used after mastectomy or in cosmetic procedures
• ·        Shoulder mesh to strengthen torn ligaments
  • Animal mesh

These devices have caused chronic pain, mobility issues, nerve damage, sexual dysfunction, auto-immune responses, and life-altering consequences. The time for silence is over.

What We’ve Achieved Together

Raised national and international awareness: From living rooms to Parliament, we’ve made sure the public, press, and policymakers heard the real stories behind the statistics.

Government Action – Our campaigning directly contributed to the Cumberlege First Do No Harm Review, the ban on vaginal prolapse mesh, and suspension of vaginal mesh slings in the UK – a seismic shift in medical policy.

Support for Survivors – Hundreds of mesh-injured people have found strength, information, and solidarity through our network.

Changing the Narrative – We’ve forced the medical community and media to face the reality of mesh injuries – and to centre patient voices in the conversation.

A Movement Powered by People – What makes Sling The Mesh unique is that it’s never been about official charity status – it’s about real people, with real injuries, standing up for each other and speaking their truth. It’s been about mums, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, and grandmothers turning pain into purpose. It’s grassroots activism in its purest form – built on truth, trust, and tenacity.

What’s Next?

We’ve come so far, but the work isn’t over. Many people – women and men – are still living with the consequences of mesh implants. Some are still being offered procedures without fully informed consent. Justice, transparency, and long-term support remain our guiding goals. As well as continuing to fight for compensation for those harmed.

Over the next decade, Sling The Mesh will:

• Demand proper aftercare and support for all mesh-injured patients

• Push for accountability from manufacturers and regulators

• Campaign for awareness around hernia and other less-recognised mesh complications

• Advocate for safer alternatives and patient-centred decision-making

• Empower the next generation of campaigners to keep raising their voices

·  Push for tougher regulations and oversight of medical devices

·   Lobby for Sunshine legislation for transparency around funding from industry to the healthcare sector which can bias prescribing and affect research integrity

Thank You

To every single person who has shared their story, written to their MP, supported us or offered a kind word in our online communities — thank you. This movement is powered by people and the determination to make a difference. To make sure our children and grandchildren don’t suffer as we have. Together, we’ve turned pain into progress — and we’re not done yet. Here’s to 10 years of Sling The Mesh – and to the powerful people behind it.