AddThis SmartLayers

Government told to apologise over implant ‘scandal’ thanks to regional journalist

Kath Sansom 1Thousands of women left with “debilitating, life altering” pain by a medical procedure are to receive an official apology thanks to a campaigning regional journalist.

Cambs Times journalist Kath Sansom has been campaigning for years on behalf of women across the country who have undergone the same operation that left her a “physical wreck”.

Kath, pictured, launched her Sling The Mesh drive after she underwent an operation to have what is known as a TVT mesh sling for bladder problems, following childbirth.

As a result of these procedures, thousands of women reported pain, bleeding and in extreme cases with bladder and vaginal wall damage and even some partners receiving cuts and injuries through intercourse.

Now a report by Baroness Cumberlege, published today, has recommended the government should immediately issue an apology on behalf of the healthcare system to the families affected.

Kath said: “While we welcome all of the recommendations in the Baroness Cumberlege ‘First Do No Harm’ Report there is no glory in knowing thousands of women have been maimed by mesh since the late 1990s then ignored when they asked for help suffering debilitating, life altering and irreversible pain.

“Women were used as cannon fodder in the mesh implant scandal and nobody bothered helping them when they needed it.

“There are nearly 8,200 in support group Sling the Mesh but those suffering are only the tip of the iceberg. The average time for women to report mesh complications average of seven years later.

“There are many more women yet to come out of the woodwork suffering shocking complications following this quick fix operation, mostly given to correct problems caused by childbirth.”

Emma Hardy MP, former vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Gruop on Surgical Mesh, added: “This report is welcomed by the many thousands of women that have suffered due to surgical mesh.

“After many years campaigning and many years of pain, their voices are now finally heard, and they now have received an official apology.

“This battle was an uphill one that faced constant dismissal of repeated appeals from many women suffering appalling pain and the mishandling of complaints.

“However, the repercussions and effects of surgical mesh implants will for many be with them for the rest of their life.

“Whilst I welcome this report, we now need to see the changes suggested by this report put into practice and we need to see real results for those that have unnecessarily suffered.”