Mesh victims ‘still fighting for justice’ five years on from review

Women harmed by vaginal mesh are “still fighting for justice”, campaigners have said on the fifth anniversary of a review into the scandal.

Sling the Mesh, a campaign group representing women harmed by mesh, accused governments of “dragging their feet” on implementing all the recommendations set out in the report.

The review examined how the health service responded to concerns over pelvic mesh – which has been linked to crippling, life-changing complications including chronic pain, infections and loss of sex life; the anti-epilepsy drug sodium valproate – which has been linked to physical malformations, autism and developmental delay in many children when it is taken by their mothers during pregnancy, and hormone pregnancy tests such as Primodos – which are thought to be associated with birth defects and miscarriages.

It concluded that patients came to “avoidable harm” because the healthcare system failed to respond in a speedy and appropriate way when serious concerns were raised about some medical treatments.

The First Do No Harm review, published in 2020, found patients were “dismissed” and “overlooked”, while the healthcare system had a “glacial” and “defensive” response to concerns over treatments.

It set out a series of recommendations, but campaigners have said that to date, some three of the nine recommendations set out in the review have been implemented.

One of the key recommendations of the report was the appointment of a Patient Safety Commissioner, who would be an “independent public leader with a statutory responsibility”.

A commissioner was appointed, but following the Government’s 10-year plan for health last week, it has been confirmed that this role will be transferred into the MHRA.

Ms Sansom said: “Moving the Patient Safety Commissioner role to the MHRA silences the patient voice instead of strengthening it.

“It strips away independence, undermines trust, and betrays the very women this role was created to protect.”

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Source: Yahoo News, 8 July 2025