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Kath Sansom (left) spoke at a women’s health event in Downham Market.
Added on 29 March 2023 Blogs

The importance of grassroots talks

It was great to get back to grassroots campaigning after being invited to give a talk at a women’s health event at Downham Market in Norfolk.

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Sling The Mesh
Added on 26 March 2023 Blogs

New UK law means improved safety for medicines – but what about medical devices?

The UK government will introduce a legal requirement to make public the results of all clinical trials within 12 months of trial completion.

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Big Ben in the evening. Image © Melinda Nagy / Adobe Stock
Added on 26 March 2023 Parliament

Parliamentary Questions and Reports

A round-up of parliamentary questions and statements relating to Sling The Mesh.

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Mesh implants are used in operations to treat incontinence, prolapse, hernia, rectopexy and some mastectomy repairs after breast cancer.

💪❤️💙 Handing in our petition to 10 Downing Street 💪❤️💙 Handing in our petition to 10 Downing Street demanding the government give compensation to women avoidably harmed by pelvic mesh - including rectopexy mesh and pelvic bio mesh - as set out in the 2020 First Do No Harm report and the 2024 Hughes Report.

#firstdonoharm #mesh #slingthemesh #patientsafety #cumberlegereview #womenshealth #avoidableharm
❤️💙 Thanks to BBC Northern Ireland for covering th ❤️💙 Thanks to BBC Northern Ireland for covering the story of #slingthemesh handing in a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the English government to lead the way in setting out a timeframe for compensation for women harmed by pelvic mesh - so the devolved nations can follow.

➡️ Susan, of @slingthemesh_ni tells how she walked into the hospital able-bodied and came out on crutches.

Susan is one of thousands of women across the UK who have experienced serious complications after being given a vaginal mesh implant to treat a prolapse and urinary incontinence

She now lives in constant pain and is calling for the government to commit to a deadline for a redress scheme.

Susan is one of several women who travelled to Downing Street to hand a letter to the prime minister asking for "urgent action" to be taken on compensation for those harmed by pelvic mesh implants.

The majority of women were not given fully informed consent on risks of surgical mesh.

Two years ago, the Hughes Report report, called for urgent action on financial redress, but campaigners are still waiting.

#slingthemesh #downingstreet #mesh #firstdonoharm #womenshealth @mumsnet
Today the #slingtgemesh admin team took our fight Today the #slingtgemesh admin team took our fight for compensation to 10 Downing Street 

#firstdonoharm #iwd #womenshealth #patientsafety
💙❤️ 🩺On International Women’s Day, let’s not forge 💙❤️ 🩺On International Women’s Day, let’s not forget the reality of medical misogyny. When I started talking about this issue after launching #slingthemesh in 2015 I was treated as if I was a bit mad; it was just a few unfortunate mesh injured women who faced a wall of medical sexism from a few bad apple doctors. 

😱 I was even warned by some journalists not to talk about it in interviews as it might be seen as defamatory.

➡️ Now here we are with this excellent Mumsnet campaign where a survey shows that half of female patients felt they had been dismissed or ignored because of their sex.

✅Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has admitted, medical misogyny in the NHS is letting women down. 

It is a serious issue and one that needs tackling.

#firstdonoharm #medicalmisogyny #firstdonoharm #sexism #womenshealth #patientsafety #mumsnet
Great to meet with @warinderjussmp today to discus Great to meet with @warinderjussmp today to discuss the advocacy of #SlingTheMesh and the First Do No Harm All Party Parliamentary Group. 

Warinder worked as a a lawyer handling mesh compensation claims before entering politics and has spoken powerfully in debates about women who have been avoidably harmed by surgical mesh. His continued support is greatly appreciated.

#patientsafety #firstdonoharm #slingthemesh
🌸💕 Huge congratulations to MP Sharon Hodgson on he 🌸💕 Huge congratulations to MP Sharon Hodgson on her appointment as Minister for Public Health and Prevention.

Sharon brings exceptional passion and experience to this role, having chaired the First Do No Harm APPG for many years and consistently championing patient safety.

With personal experience of mesh harm due to her mam sadly suffering mesh complications, Sharon has a deep understanding of the healthcare system and the real-life impact of policy decisions.

She will bring a genuinely empathetic, informed voice to the role and be a strong advocate for women’s health.

Sharon has big shoes to fill - MP Ashley Dalton is stepping down to continue her cancer treatment and focus on being MP for West Lancashire.

All the very best to you both.

#slingthemesh #mesh #womenshealth #patientsafety
⌛Five years in the making! Sustained pressure from ⌛Five years in the making! Sustained pressure from Sling The Mesh helped drive the development of a new patient questionnaire with a Leeds University research team to record outcomes before and after pelvic floor surgery - including Bulkamid. 

➡️ We were in Leeds yesterday for one of the final workshops.

🗣️This matters because there has never been a patient‑reported outcome measure (PROM) capturing prolapse and bladder leak surgery outcomes from the patient perspective. For decades, long‑term harm went unrecorded and women’s voices were ignored.

⚠️Yet we are still concerned about whether the metric will be able to accurately capture the outcomes of women's experience. After so much work from researchers and patients- the metric needs to do what it was intended to do

⚠️While vaginal prolapse mesh was banned in 2017 and bladder mesh slings suspended in 2018, abdominal mesh for prolapse is still widely used across the NHS. Our hope is still that this questionnaire helps expose the reality of long‑term complications and closes a major evidence gap- but as it stands, we believe further work is required to improve the metric.

➡️ The funding for this PROM happened because of Sling the Mesh, especially Ruth MacLeod. And many women have now given their time to meetings and workshops to make sure harms that matter to women were included.

⬇️⬇️ Find out more here by visiting the Leeds University APPRAISE web page.

#slingthemesh #mesh #patientsafety #firstdonoharm #womenshealth #appraise #leedsbeckett #pop #sui #bulkamid
💔 Rebecca’s story. What was sold as a “quick fix” 💔 Rebecca’s story. What was sold as a “quick fix” became a life‑altering nightmare. Rebecca went into surgery trusting the system. Instead, mesh complications left her living with devastating consequences that affected her whole family. 💔

➡️ The impact has been so severe that her autistic daughter has needed to move into an assisted care living facility as Rebecca no longer had the strength to support her, a reality no parent should ever be forced to face.

➡️This is the hidden cost of mesh harm: chronic pain, lost independence, and families pushed to breaking point. Rebecca’s courage in speaking out is for every woman who was dismissed, disbelieved, or told this was “normal”. It isn’t.

📢The government must commit to a compensation scheme for women harmed by pelvic mesh as outlined in the 2024 Hughes Report.

📢Regulators, NHS and Government must listen.

📢 The system must believe women.

📢And we must make sure scandals like this never happens again. ✊

You can read Rebecca's story online in the Eastern Daily Press - the newspaper I trained with back in 1990 where wonderful former work colleagues support the campaign.

#MeshInjury #ListenToWomen #PatientSafety #MedicalHarm #WomenDeserveBetter #EndTheMeshScandal #ChronicPain #JusticeForPatients #slingthemesh #hearhervoice #firstdonoharm
❤️💙I was pleased to be invited to speak at the All ❤️💙I was pleased to be invited to speak at the All Party Parliamentary Group into PIP breast implants to share insights into the many regulatory and oversight failings of medical devices which led to the surgical mesh scandal - sadly these failings are the same issues that led to the PIP breast implant scandal.

➡️ The UK regulator MHRA failed to spot trends of harm, there were no timely warnings, the scientific literature failed to pick up new and unexpected complications from implant materials and women were ignored, gaslit and denied proper pathways of care. 

➡️Moreover, medical devices have historically been approved on a flawed system of equivalence - which means they’re rubber stamped through without any clinical evidence.

😱Approval of medical devices has historically been so weak that a household kitchen kettle has better regulatory checks than a permanently implanted medical device.

It was great to meet with supportive politicians and the Scottish Patient Safety Commissioner. Their commitment to standing with patients and driving meaningful change is something we are extremely grateful for.

#slingthemesh #patientsafety
💙❤️We are grateful to MP Sarah Green who chaired t 💙❤️We are grateful to MP Sarah Green who chaired this month's Westminster debate urgently calling for compensation for women harmed by pelvic #mesh. Her opening speech is published in @parliamentmagazine 

Two years ago the Patient Safety Commissioner, Professor Henrietta Hughes, published her report, outlining options for redress for the 30,000 – predominantly women and children – harmed by both sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. Four years before that, Baroness Cumberlege’s landmark First Do No Harm review laid out the devastating impact of avoidable medical harm on those impacted. Yet, there has still been no official government response to the Hughes Report, and no sign of a redress scheme.

Professor Hughes did not independently decide to carry out this work. She was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care in late 2022 to explore how redress would be delivered. In the foreword of her report she highlighted that commissioning such work would raise expectations, and that it would be “profoundly unfair” to do so if there was no intention of delivering redress to victims.

Members of Parliament have been asking for progress updates ever since the report was launched. In October last year, Professor Hughes used her statutory powers for the first time to ask for more detailed answers from the Department of Health. We now know that there have been meetings and roundtables and briefings, but still no progress on redress.

30,000 women and children have been harmed through no fault of their own from valproate and pelvic mesh. The statistics are stark: 85% report not being able to work, 73% report that their finances have suffered as a result and 91% report that their mental health and wellbeing have been adversely affected.

Behind each of these statistics is a story of suffering. 

The current system is failing these women, children and families. They were injured by a healthcare system meant to protect them and their lives were left permanently altered. Delay deepens injustice – the Government must now commit to redress.

#slingthemesh
📢 We trusted our doctor that we were getting a gol 📢 We trusted our doctor that we were getting a gold standard fix … Women are still waiting for the compensation they deserve after being harmed by Pelvic Mesh.

Tune in to BBC Woman's Hour from 10am on Wednesday 18 February to hear the Patient Safety Commissioner Henrietta Hughes and myself talk about the urgent need for the government to commit to a timeframe and scheme of financial redress for women avoidably harmed by a surgery we were told was a low to zero risk fix for prolapse or bladder leaks.

None of us were warned of the devastating - and in many cases life changing risks. 

Listen in from 44 minutes on the BBC Sounds app or visit the #slingthemesh You Tube channel to hear the interview.

#slingthemesh #patientsafety #mesh #womenshealth #firstdonoharm #bbcwomanshour
📣Wes Streeting has committed to be the health secr 📣Wes Streeting has committed to be the health secretary to deliver on the Hughes Report recommendations for compensation for women harmed by pelvic mesh and sodium valproate - before the next general election. 

#slingthe@esh #mesh
💔We are heartbroken to share the news of the passi 💔We are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of our much‑loved friend and fellow Sling The Mesh campaigner Sharron Mahony who was the creator of most of our campaign graphics, posters and fliers.

💙❤️Sharron was a passionate, fearless advocate and shared her rectopexy mesh story to the media countless times, always driven by a desire to protect and support other women.

She was beside me on the Good Morning Britain couch last year to raise awareness, speaking with honesty and incredible courage about her journey, particularly in relation to the autoimmune impact of surgical mesh.

Behind the scenes, Sharron was just as extraordinary. A naturally gifted creative, Sharron designed many of our Sling the Mesh graphics, posters, social media assets and fliers helping elevate our impact visually online and in a wide range of meetings.

As a trusted advocate, Sharron attended many important events to represent the mesh community, including being a patient rep at an Oxford University conference attended by international scientific experts, meeting the Patient Safety Commissioner and meeting peers in the House of Lords to push for financial redress - her dedication in compiling compelling evidence for that meeting to push for compensation for women harmed by pelvic mesh was nothing short of remarkable.

Sharron supported countless women individually, and was a constant source of humour, warmth, and compassion. Her kindness touched so many lives, and her absence will be felt deeply across our Sling The Mesh community and also within Mesh Rectopexy Support and Action Group where she was a much loved admin.

Sharron was a true force for good - a fierce advocate, a talented volunteer, and a treasured friend. 

She will be sorely missed, but her impact will continue to guide and inspire us.

Rest in peace, Sharron. Thank you for everything you gave to this campaign and to so many women. ❤️❤️

#slingthemesh #mesh #patientsafety #womensupportingwomen #firstdonoharm #sharronmahony
Pressure is mounting! Tune into Parliament TV toda Pressure is mounting! Tune into Parliament TV today from 9.30 -11am  for a Westminster Hall debate into the urgent need for compensation for women harmed by Pelvic Mesh and Sodium Valproate as outlined in the Hughes Report and First Do No Harm Report. 

#slingthemesh #patientsafety
Thanks to ITV for covering the story. Two years on Thanks to ITV for covering the story. Two years on from the Hughes Report and still no compensation for women injured by Pelvic Mesh.  We’re calling on the government to commit to a redress scheme now.

#slingthemesh #mesh #hughesreport #patientsafety
Two years on- and the government’s failure to resp Two years on- and the government’s failure to respond to calls for a compensation scheme for women harmed by pelvic mesh has been described as “morally unacceptable” by #slingthemesh

We're grateful to The Guardian for covering the story ⬇️

Thousands of women were left with life-changing complications after receiving transvaginal mesh implants, with some unable to walk or work again.

It is two years since plans for financial redress were set out by England’s patient safety commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes.

However, ministers have made no commitments to providing compensation to women harmed by the medical scandal. 

The plans, outlined in the 2024 Hughes report, included compensation for children left disabled as a result of their mothers using the epilepsy drug sodium valproate in pregnancy.

The government recently admitted there was still no timetable to provide compensation. Hughes has now pledged to take the matter directly to the prime minister.

Campaigners say the lack of government action is worsening the mental health of people affected by the scandals.

Kath Sansom, founder of advocacy group Sling the Mesh, said: “As every week, month, year passes, women are getting more frustrated, upset. You can’t put their pain on hold. A lot of them have had to give up work or reduce their hours. They’re struggling to make ends meet. We have some members, they’ve had to sell their homes and move in with elderly parents, marriages broken down …

“We see those women at three in the morning trying to put up a post saying, ‘I don’t want to be here any more’ … I’m so angry that these women have their lives ruined and no one is taking accountability by giving them compensation … it’s morally unacceptable.”

For years pelvic mesh was regarded as the gold standard fix for stress incontinence and prolapse in women, conditions that can occur after childbirth or as women approach menopause. 

“None of us were warned about the risks. We were all told it was a gold standard surgery,” said Sansom.
📢Today marks two years since the #hughesreport cal 📢Today marks two years since the #hughesreport called for compensation for women harmed by pelvic mesh and sodium valproate. Two years on and still no action.

❤️💙We are grateful for politicians championing our cause especially @sharonhodgsonmp and to the Patient Safety Commissioner Henrietta Hughes who has pledged to take this direct to 10 Downing Street.

Whilst the Government continues to stall on compensation, it does not put women’s problems on hold. Many have lost careers, pensions, relationships and are living with life changing pain, repeated infections, and the daily struggle to walk or sit without pain. 

Everyone in the support group has had their quality of life impacted. The damage to women’s mental health is profound and far‑reaching. Too many lives have been shattered, yet women are still waiting for the justice and support they deserve.

Women need action now. Visit the #slingthemesh website to read the full blog.

#redressnow #hearhervoice #mesh
Saturday marks two years since the publication of Saturday marks two years since the publication of the Hughes report which called for compensation for those harmed by the mesh and valproate scandals.
Two long years have passed with no official government response.
Today, I told the government that the time for thinking is over. Thousands of women and children need justice and we aren’t going anywhere ✊🏻
❤️💙I was pleased to represent the mesh community t ❤️💙I was pleased to represent the mesh community today at the first Patient Safety Symposium in Parliament hosted by Sir Jeremy Hunt with speakers and guests on a range of topics - including international speakers.

In the Q&A I spoke about some of the things learnt in a decade of mesh advocacy - the pervasive culture of denial towards all patients harmed by all types of mesh, and the medical misogyny which makes attitudes towards women even worse.

The appalling impact on people's mental health of being gaslit and invalidated and the need for hospital codes at the start of novel treatments eg pelvic mesh was implanted for 10 years before there was a specific hospital code which means nobody knows the true scale of mesh harm.

I also spoke about the failings of the MHRA Yellow Card as it is only voluntary for healthcare professionals to report to - which means there are thousands of unreported incidents of harm and a black hole of missing data, making it almost impossible for new campaigners to prove there is an issue.

I also urged attendees to be more curious about the scientific literature as much of it only has short-term follow-up, small cohorts and some papers have authors with conflict of interest which leads to benefits being overstated and risks downplayed. In addition much of the literature focuses on “the fix” and doesn’t capture new onset of complications - which for mesh can be devastating. 

Finally, there must be a new system that allows campaigners to raise awareness of their causes in Parliament without having to depend on the support of their local MP. As we all know, securing an MP’s backing can be a matter of luck, leaving many people without any meaningful route to have their concerns - including vital patient safety issues - heard in Parliament.

Patient safety should not be optional it must be a given.

#appgpatientsafety #firstdonoharm #slingthemesh
📢Would you like your MP to represent you at an Int 📢Would you like your MP to represent you at an International Women's Day event in Parliament on Tuesday March 10 to push for compensation for the mesh injured? If so please send them this letter inviting them to attend. Feel free to add details of your own mesh experience. 
________________________

Dear 

I am getting in touch to ask you to attend an upcoming Parliamentary event on my behalf. Sharon Hodgson MP is sponsoring an event in Parliament to mark International Women’s Day on Tuesday 10th March 2026, 10-12pm in the Jubilee Room. 

With the theme “Hear her voice” - the event will focus on raising awareness of women’s health scandals and the systematic difficulties women face when seeking medical help. 

It will also be a great opportunity to call on the government to implement all recommendations of the First Do No Harm - First Do No Harm - and Hughes - The Hughes Report: Options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh - reports. 

As a constituent of yours who has been personally affected by the mesh scandal, I believe that this is a significant opportunity for Parliamentarians to raise awareness of women’s voices in healthcare and to hear directly from those who have been affected by health scandals. In attendance will be patient group representatives and survivors from the mesh, primodos and valproate scandals. 

As well as women who have suffered as a result of complications from the Mirena coil and some women who have been harmed by the PIP breast implant scandal. While health scandals differ in their specifics, the unfortunate common denominator for far too long has been their impact on women. 

The event will be an empowering opportunity to come together and have productive conversations and 'make some noise' around calls for compensation and the implementation of all of the recommendations of both the Cumberlege review and the Hughes report. 

There will also be photo opportunities to show your support for your constituents. As my Member of Parliament, I would appreciate you attending the event to represent women harmed by these horrific health scandals. 

#slingthemesh #iwd2026
🚨 A new study on hernia and pelvic mesh autoimmune 🚨 A new study on hernia and pelvic mesh autoimmune complications is being planned – and while this should be a positive step, we have concerns which could mean it fails thousands of patients. Key concerns are:

📍Two of the authors have ties to industry
📍Only follows patients for a year 
📍Blood tests that could show immune activity aren’t included

⬇️Read the full details on our latest blog on the #slingthemesh website.

#hernia #pelvic #mesh #patientsafety #firstdonoharm
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