The UK Government is facing calls to properly redress women impacted by the mesh scandal, a year after a report made recommendations to meet the needs of women affected.
A report written in February 2024 by patient safety commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes recommended what the government should do to support patients who have suffered “avoidable harm” due to safety failures.
Dr Henrietta Hughes outlined a redress scheme – both financial and non-financial in nature – that would ensure that patient concerns have been “heard [and] listened to.”
A year on from the report, the government has not fully addressed needs of patients impacted in the scandal, to the dismay of Dr Hughes.
“It has been a year since I launched the Hughes Report calling for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, however I never imagined that a year later I would still be waiting for a full response from the government,” the safety commissioner said in a post on X.
The report also pointed to the help required for victims of the epilepsy medication sodium valproate scandal. The drug can cause major birth defects if taken during pregnancy – for decades women were not properly warned or educated on the treatment’s risks.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told Medical Device Network: “The harm caused by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh continues to be felt today. Our sympathies are with those affected and we are fully focused on how best to support patients and prevent future harm.”
“This is a complex area of work and Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron met with some of those affected before Christmas and has committed to providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner at the earliest opportunity.”
Pelvic mesh used to be the gold-standard treatment for treating women with incontinence and prolapse. The medical device, also known as transvaginal mesh, works by supporting weakened muscles and provide structural reinforcement to pelvic anatomy. However, research subsequently showed the implant damaged muscle damage by eroding tissue and causing scarring. Patient testimonies also correlated with the findings. The use of pelvic mesh for many conditions was paused in 2018 amid the safety concerns.
Dr Hughes spoke with patients who were treated with the mesh, who cited impacts on ability to work, travel, and carry out daily tasks were negatively impacted. Women’s mental health and personal relationships were also significantly affected. Side effects have included pain, urination difficulties, and pain during sex along with incontinence.
Dr Hughes has recommended initial payments of £100,000 for sodium-valproate victims and £20,000 for women injured by mesh implants. Around 140 women received payouts in August 2024, though many more are still awaiting financial compensation.
"My message to the Government a year ago was 'Get on with it', and although the Government has changed, my message remains the same", Dr Hughes told ITV News.
Mesh UK Charitable Trust told Medical Device Network that it "completely supports the call for government action to ensure redress is provided to those patients who have been harmed by the surgical use of mesh products."
"It is a scandal that so few of the recommendations from the Cumberlege team have yet been implemented - by either the previous or the present government," the charity added.
Over 100 types of mesh devices manufactured by at least 40 different companies have at some point been in circulation. Reports suggest millions of pelvic mesh devices have been manufactured and implanted in women worldwide.
Mesh implants were manufactured mainly by companies including Johnson and Johnson (J&J), Medscand, Boston Scientific, and Coloplast. J&J has already paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements around the world for its mesh products.
Editor's note: This article was updated on 11 February to include comment from Mesh UK Charitable Trust.
