The 2026 Women’s Health Strategy – has mesh dropped to the bottom of the pile?

Summary

The government has launched the refreshed Women’s Health Strategy and Sling the Mesh are deeply upset to see no mention of mesh injured women and mesh centres in the media announcements from Government nor of the need for pelvic floor physiotherapy education for girls in school – despite a pledge for better education around periods.

A brief reference to the postcode lottery of mesh centres appears on page 61 as Action 63. However, the Sling the Mesh community expected that their advocacy, particularly on highlighting how women’s voices are dismissed within healthcare – to be given far greater prominence. Its absence sends a deeply troubling message: that the experiences and needs of women harmed by mesh are no longer considered a priority.

YET, it was the 2020 First Do No Harm report, the formidable Baroness Julia Cumberlege and Sling the Mesh campaign which highlighted for the first time how women’s voices were not being heard – and as forerunners called for urgent action to address this.

Sling the Mesh have written to Wes Streeting, MPs and journalists. Read their letter at the link below.