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News Article
UK hypermobility sufferers wait up to 21 years for diagnosis, study suggests
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
People in the UK with hypermobility conditions are waiting up to 21 years to be diagnosed while suffering from symptoms ranging from chronic pain to partially dislocated joints, research suggests. The study of more than 2,000 people, which was led by the University of Edinburgh and described as the largest of its kind in the UK, indicates awareness of hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is low among British healthcare professionals. The conditions affect connective tissue throughout the body and are associated with joint hypermobility, chronic pain and fatigue, alongside neurological, gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms. The writer, actor and director Lena Dunham has revealed she spent years thinking her “bendy party tricks”, migraines, fainting spells and swollen knees were just quirks, until she was diagnosed with hEDs – a hereditary disorder – in her late 20s. Researchers found patients with hEDs and HSD faced “fragmented healthcare” and this could have a significant impact on their mental health, education and employment. Almost half the respondents to the online survey, which was carried out between September 2023 and January 2024, were unemployed (46%) and in receipt of disability-related benefits (48%) and most (56%) reported disrupted education. The vast majority (84%) reported chronic pain; while almost three-quarters (74%) had experienced partially dislocated joints and two-thirds (66%) had gastrointestinal symptoms. Seven out of 10 (71%) reported anxiety, 63% reported depression and 53% suffered from migraines. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 15 June 2026 -
Content ArticleDespite being regarded as the gold standard, outpatient hysteroscopy (OPH) is associated with inconsistent outcomes and pain, while the clinical, organisational, and personal determinants shaping patient-centred experience remain poorly characterised. This study aimed to harness the authenticity and richness of naturally occurring online qualitative data to explore the clinical, organisational, and personal factors that shape women’s hysteroscopy experiences, offering vital insights for service improvement. The study found that five themes captured women’s specific hysteroscopy experiences: (1) Contingent Consent, (2) Unacknowledged Vulnerability, (3) Analgesia Roulette, (4) Gynaecological Pain Gaslighting, and (5) Gendered Pain Gap. These themes delineate a hysteroscopy pathway where consent is shaped by limited choices and misinformation, vulnerability is heightened by procedural exposure, pain relief is inconsistently applied, women's suffering is routinely dismissed, and gender biases reinforce unequal standards of care. This study identifies clinical blind-spots that contribute to perceptions of systemic neglect in women’s gynaecological health care, evidenced by inconsistent pain management, inadequate consent, and gendered biases in OPH. These findings present an opportunity to inform structural reforms that advance equitable, patient-centred gynaecological care and improve clinical accountability. Further reading on the hub: Painful hysteroscopy Community thread My experience of an outpatient hysteroscopy procedure Preventable negative hysteroscopy experience
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News Article
Surgeon's mesh surgery cost £20m in compensation
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A disgraced surgeon whose artificial bowel mesh procedures injured more than 450 patients has cost the NHS more £20m in compensation payments, the BBC has been told. Bristol surgeon Tony Dixon was removed from the medical register last year for serious misconduct, including performing unnecessary surgeries, using surgical mesh to treat bowl complaints without patient's informed consent, and fabricating patient records. NHS Resolution confirmed it has paid out £19.12m so far to 245 claimants - and there are hundreds more unsettled claims to be dealt with. Dixon carried out the treatments, using artificial mesh to treat prolapsed bowels, at Southmead Hospital and Spire Hospital. The BBC first revealed allegations made against Dixon in 2017, when many women complained of severe pain following their operations. Kath Sansom, founder of the patient-led campaign group Sling the Mesh, previously said that women had suffered "horrific complications" such as pain, nerve damage, and mesh erosion - where the mesh slices into nearby organs and tissues. Dixon used a technique known as mesh rectopexy to treat bowel problems and has promoted it through a series of studies. Some of his studies have been flagged with formal editorial warnings due to the concerns about the validity of the data. Read full story Source: BBC News, 20 April 2026 -
News Article
Streeting relaunches women’s health strategy to tackle ‘medical misogyny’
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Wes Streeting has vowed to stop women being “gaslit” by doctors as he relaunches the women’s health strategy for England. Speaking before the publication of the renewed strategy on Wednesday, Streeting said the NHS was “failing women” and set out measures to help them access the healthcare they need. The government said the strategy would include a new standard of care to ensure women were offered pain relief for invasive procedures, such as fitting a contraceptive coil and hysteroscopies. Feedback would be directly linked to provider funding via a new trial, giving women more power to affect change if they have a poor experience. Action would also be taken to ensure women no longer face long waits for diagnoses for conditions such as endometriosis, which can take a decade to diagnose. MPs said parts of the 10-year women’s health strategy, launched in 2022 by the Conservatives, were at risk of being scaled back or discontinued under wider changes to the NHS. These included initiatives that had reduced waiting lists and improved women’s access to healthcare, such as women’s health hubs. Sarah Owen, the chair of the committee and a Labour MP, said: “This would be a disaster for girls’ and women’s menstrual healthcare, when it is in dire need of more support. “It is a national scandal that nearly half a million women are on hospital gynaecology waiting lists when there are effective treatments that could be administered in primary and community care, if only they could access them.” Streeting said: “[Women] have for so long been let down by a healthcare system that too often gaslights women, treating their pain as an inconvenience and their symptoms as an overreaction.” He added: “Whether it’s being passed from one appointment to another for conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, or a lack of proper pain relief during invasive procedures, through to having to navigate symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis, it’s clear the system is failing women. “Women’s voices must be central to delivering effective, respectful and empathetic care. We need to hit medical misogyny where it hurts – the wallet. Today’s renewed strategy will tackle the issues women face every day and ensure no woman is left fighting to be heard.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 14 April 2026 -
News Article
USA: Taking Tylenol during pregnancy has no link to autism, new study finds
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Taking acetaminophen – known in the US by the brand name Tylenol – during pregnancy has no effect on later autism diagnoses, according to a sweeping new study from Denmark published on Monday. The Trump administration has targeted Tylenol use in pregnancy as a major cause of autism in children, which appears to have led to a drop in pregnant people taking the pain reliever. Health officials announced in September 2025 that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would initiate a label change for acetaminophen, warning of a potential link to autism. Trump cautioned several times against taking the pain reliever during pregnancy. “If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol,” Trump said at a press conference at the time. “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t have your baby take Tylenol.” He said the medication was “not good” and taking Tylenol during pregnancy was associated with “a very increased risk of autism”. Through Denmark’s robust national healthcare system, researchers were able to track more than 1.5 million children born between 1997 and 2022 in the national health registry, including 31,098 children who were exposed to Tylenol in utero. Autism was diagnosed in 1.8% of children who were exposed to Tylenol and 3% of those who weren’t, according to the study, which was published in Jama Pediatrics. A similar 2024 study in Sweden found a marginal link that disappeared after taking siblings into account, suggesting that autism is strongly genetic, which has already been demonstrated in other studies. Tylenol is safe to take during pregnancy and can play a key role in relieving pain and bringing down fevers. Yet after the September announcement, Tylenol orders for pregnant women in emergency rooms dropped by 16% in the initial study period, according to a Lancet study published last month. Health officials’ “words are affecting behavior”, said Jeremy Faust, a co-author of that Lancet study, an emergency physician at Mass General Brigham and a health services researcher at Harvard Medical School. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 13 April 2026 -
Content Article
Whistleblownout
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Whistle blowing
Dympna Waldron still reels more than twenty years after she blew the whistle on opioids in Irish hospitals. -
News ArticleResearchers at King’s College London have analysed coroners’ reports from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to identify safety concerns linked to deaths involving fentanyl patches. Fentanyl is a highly potent and fast-acting synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain and is available in several forms, including injections, nasal sprays and skin patches. The study, which is published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, examined deaths associated with transdermal fentanyl patches between 1997 and 2024. While fentanyl can be an effective treatment for pain, it has also been linked to increasing numbers of drug-related deaths worldwide. In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued several safety warnings about the risk of accidental exposure to fentanyl patches and the importance of safe disposal. To better understand the risks, the researchers conducted a systematic case series linking two national sources of coronial data, the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM,) and the Preventable Deaths Tracker, which collects coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) reports. By linking these datasets, the team created the first comprehensive overview of fentanyl patch-related deaths reported by coroners. The analysis identified 99 deaths involving fentanyl patches between 1997 and 2024. Coroners reported 77 safety events linked to these deaths, with the most common issues relating to adherence and usage (34%), administration errors (32%) and prescribing practices (6%). The study also highlights differences in how deaths are reported across the two datasets, suggesting that important safety information from coroners may not always be systematically captured or monitored. As part of the project, the team also developed a live online dashboard that tracks Prevention of Future Deaths reports involving fentanyl patches in real time. The researchers hope this tool will support regulators, policymakers and healthcare professionals in monitoring safety concerns and improving prescribing practices. Read full story Source: Kings College London, 18 March 2026
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News Article
'I waited 30 years for my endometriosis diagnosis'
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
"It's barbaric. That's how bad the pain is, It's absolutely barbaric." A woman who waited 30 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis describes how she struggles in pain. Nichola Howells from Manchester started experiencing extremely heavy periods at the age of 14 but spent decades being "dismissed" by doctors and even gynecologists. The 47-year-old said it meant that by the time she was diagnosed she was "literally riddled" with the disease. Nichola is not alone, with many other women reporting they were not taken seriously by health professionals. The Department of Health and Social Care said it was trying to change things by investing in training and women's health hubs, adding that "waiting decades for an endometriosis diagnosis is unacceptable". In the UK, one in 10 women have endometriosis, according to the World Health Organisation. The average waiting time for a diagnosis has now reached nine years and four months, according to a new report by the charity Endometriosis UK. Nichola, who grew up in London, started taking contraception to try and manage the bleeding but as time went on her symptoms got worse. She said she was ignored or dismissed by health professionals, with one doctor telling her to "rid herself of her crippled mentality". By the time she was diagnosed, she had reached stage 4, with deep infiltrating endometriosis spread across her ligaments, intestine, pelvis, ovaries and uterus. She said: "Three decades is absolutely insane, to the point where I am literally riddled with endometriosis." Read full story Source: BBC News, 23 March 2026 -
Content ArticleA new report, jointly produced by charities Cysters and Endometriosis UK, sheds light on the biases and inequalities faced by endometriosis patients from ethnically diverse communities. The report reveals that patients from these communities are waiting more than 16% (1 year and 8 months) longer than the UK average waiting time for an endometriosis diagnosis time. The report draws on findings from more than 500 people from ethnically diverse communities living with endometriosis, as well as ten supplementary interviews. Findings: People from ethnically diverse communities wait, on average, 11 years for an endometriosis diagnosis in the UK. This is compared to the UK-wide average diagnosis time of 9 years and 4 months. Patients from ethnically diverse backgrounds wait more than twice as long (4 years) between seeing a gynaecologist and being diagnosed with endometriosis as the UK-wide average (1 year and 10 months). This is despite going to their GP sooner after first noticing symptoms, and waiting less time to see a gynaecologist. More than two thirds (68%) believed their ethnicity either played a role in their diagnosis, proved a barrier to diagnosis, or was the subject of assumptions made by healthcare practitioners. Just 11% believed healthcare providers are culturally sensitive.
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News Article
Health warning as common painkiller linked to kidney damage
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Consumers are being urged to exercise caution when using common anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen for pain relief due to potential adverse effects on kidney function. Those with a higher risk of kidney disease, including individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure, should be especially careful, warn Kidney Care UK and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac can elevate blood pressure and damage blood vessels within the kidneys. Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: “Medicines have the power to harm as well as to heal. “Although NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, are effective and safe medicines, patients should be aware of their impact – particularly if a patient is at increased risk of developing kidney disease – and consider alternative medication where appropriate. “If a patient has concerns about their usage of NSAIDs, they should speak to their pharmacist who can advise them. “Pharmacists are experts in medicines and are best placed to offer advice to people who may be concerned about any potential long-term effect of some medicines and can help patients effectively manage pain.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 13 March 2026 -
News Article
Women receiving worse treatment for back and neck pain
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Women are receiving worse treatment for back and neck pain because their experiences are not factored into “male by default” clinical guidelines in the UK, research has found. The NHS fails to acknowledge sex-specific considerations such as pain being more common among women in its model of care for non-surgical management of chronic neck and back pain, according to research from the University of Lancashire. A major review of clinical guidance, published in the Physical Therapy Reviews journal, found that by consistently only referring to people, individuals or patients, clinical guidance in the UK ignores the role women’s different skeleton size, hormones, experience of pregnancy or menopause can play in musculoskeletal pain. Guidelines also ignore the different biological characteristics of intersex patients. Lauren Haworth, research associate at the University of Lancashire and lead author of the study, said that considering sex-specific biology was important to deliver personalised, equitable healthcare. “We know that large breasts can be heavy, and without adequate support this additional weight, combined with gravity, can cause strain on a woman’s body, which may contribute towards neck and back pain,” she said. But she added that because existing guidance doesn’t acknowledge sex-based differences, “women may still be disadvantaged simply because their biological needs differ from those of men”. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 11 March 2026 Further reading on the hub: Top picks: Women's health inequity Gender bias: A threat to women’s health Women’s heart health - a patient safety priority Medicines, research and female hormones: a dangerous knowledge gap -
News Article
'I'm in constant pain after vaginal mesh surgery'
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
"I walked into the hospital able-bodied and came out on crutches." Susan McLarnon 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 says she now lives in "constant pain" and is calling for the government to commit to a deadline for a redress scheme. McLarnon is one of several women travelling to Downing Street later to hand a letter to the prime minister asking for "urgent action" to be taken on compensation for those harmed by pelvic mesh implants. Some women were left in permanent pain, unable to walk, work or have sex, after the surgery to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Two years ago, a major report, external called for urgent action but campaigners are still waiting. Kath Sansom, founder of Sling The Mesh, who will be handing in the letter at Downing Street with the other women, said pelvic mesh had "stolen women's health, irreversibly ruined their quality of life, their independence, and their future". They are calling for a timescale for a funded, government-backed compensation scheme for all women who have been harmed. The UK Department of Health and Social Care said it is "carefully considering" the recommendations in the report and aims to provide an update in due course. Read full story Source: BBC News, 10 March 2026 -
Content ArticleIn Northern California and beyond, healthcare systems are rapidly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools to transform how pain is recognised, measured, and managed. From algorithm-guided assessments to wearable sensors and predictive analytics, these tools promise to augment clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Yet significant controversies remain, including concerns over algorithmic accuracy, bias, data privacy, and the extent to which technology should complement or potentially displace human clinical judgment.
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News Article
I need 120 pills a week to deal with the agony caused by vaginal mesh
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A mum-of-three left in "constant, disabling pain" after an operation says women like her should not suffer in silence. Kerry Watson, 40, uses a walking stick and takes more than 100 tablets a week to deal with the agony caused by having a vaginal mesh implant to treat a prolapsed bladder in 2014. She is 1 of 25 women who have received compensation following operations carried out by a single surgeon in north Wales. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has apologised, admitting Kerry was not fully informed of the risks and side effects or of the alternatives to the mesh surgery. Kerry, from Kinmel Bay in Conwy county, said she woke up from the operation in pain which never went away, and got gradually worse. "It felt like I had a needle through my back, and it was coming out my front, and I couldn't twist past it," she said. "Your mental health is affected. You get brain fog, you're tired, you're fatigued. You can't function as a woman – and that's every day for 10 years," she said. "I'm a mum to three boys, but I felt like I was failing. As they were getting older, I couldn't even stand to watch them play football. The NHS announced it would pause using vaginal mesh in 2018 following patient safety concerns. Read full story Source: BBC News, 27 February 2026 -
News Article"I was told by the midwife to shut up," says Tenisha, "and then she put her hand over my mouth... " Shakira asked if alternative medication to morphine was possible after her C-section. "The nurse got angry," she says. "She threw the morphine away, and I was then left alone for hours." And when Kadi was recovering from a fourth-degree vaginal tear, she lay alone in her hospital bed crying her eyes out. Stories from three separate women who were cared for in three different hospitals, but they all shared a similar experience - their pain was ignored, their concerns were dismissed, and they believe their race played a part in the treatment they received. The government says tackling disparities in maternity care is a priority, calling the fact that black women are twice as likely to die during childbirth an "absolute outrage". But behind the statistics are real women, living with the consequences. "I haven't felt supported, I haven't felt safe, I haven't felt like my pain was taken seriously," says Tenisha Howell, 33, who has five children. "I have a lot of experiences that I can draw from, and it's sad to say that a lot of them have been quite negative," she says. Tenisha says her most recent birth was "probably one of the most traumatic experiences" she has ever had. She was screaming in agonising pain as the gas and air she was given was beginning to wear off. The response from her midwife? "She told me to shut up multiple times and then she put her hand over my mouth to basically say, 'be quiet'," Tenisha explains. Dr Michelle Peter, co-author of the Five X More Black Maternity Experiences Report, says: "This kind of dismissal of black women's pain and refusal to provide adequate pain relief when it's requested is a common experience amongst the black women who have shared their experiences with us." The Black maternal experiences report gathered responses from 1,164 black and mixed-heritage women across the UK who had been pregnant between July 2021 and March 2025. Of these women, 54% said they experienced challenges with healthcare professionals, while almost a quarter reported not receiving pain relief when it was requested. "This is kind of linked to historical, but also ongoing, racialised assumptions about black people's tolerance to pain, their vulnerability or their strengths," says Dr Peter. "It was a horrifying experience, to be in so much pain, to be asking for help and nobody listening to you." Read full story Source: Sky News, 16 February 2026 Further reading on the hub: Five X More campaign: Improving maternal mortality rates and health outcomes for black women
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News ArticleTwenty-five women have received compensation from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board following gynaecological surgery carried out by a single surgeon - with one saying the ongoing pain is like someone "twisting a knife" inside them. S4C’s current affairs programme Y Byd ar Bedwar has been investigating the work of gynaecological surgeon Derek Klazinga. He was employed by Betsi health board and the previous North Wales health trusts between 2002 and 2016. Originally from South Africa, he worked at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd. Mr Klazinga said he had "sincerest sympathy" that the women have had to endure such physical and psychological pain but said this had been down to "what we now know to be, defective medical products". One patient, who was not named, said the daily pain was like someone "twisting a knife" inside them. "It's horrific. He has destroyed my body," they added. Y Byd ar Bedwar has spoken to seven women in north Wales who have received compensation since 2015 after undergoing surgery by Mr Klazinga. Between them, they say they have received more than £600,000. Several said they did not consent to the procedures they received, while most described chronic pain that has had a profound impact on their lives. Read full story Source: North Wales Live, 10 February 2026
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Content ArticleTime and again members of the mesh community report facing a brick wall of institutional denial when seeking help for their pain and complications. This YouTube video highlights some of the outrageous, unacceptable and inappropriate comments that doctors have said to members of hashtag #slingthemesh support group in a pervasive culture of medical misogyny that should not still exist in modern medicine. Related reading on the hub: Doctors’ shocking comments reveal institutional misogyny towards women harmed by pelvic mesh
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News ArticlePresident Donald Trump’s claim that taking paracetamol during pregnancy is linked to autism is not based on robust evidence, a study has found. The claims were made by Trump and health and human services secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr in September, 2025. They urged women to not take Tylenol, known as paracetamol in the UK, and repeated numerous conspiracy theories about autism. Kennedy, who has previously been accused of spreading vaccine misinformation and pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood vaccines were linked to autism, said the department would encourage clinicians to prescribe the lowest effective dose of the pain relief drug. UK scientists hit back at the “fearmongering” claims and health secretary Wes Streeting stressed to not “pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine.” Now a review of the medical evidence published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health journal, has found there is no strong evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or any intellectual disability among children. “Autism diagnoses have surged by 787 per cent in the UK since 1998, which naturally raises questions around what’s behind this trend. It’s simply bad science to automatically assume that this is due to autism becoming much more prevalent. It’s even worse to attribute it to a simple cause like taking paracetamol during pregnancy without foundation,” Dr Lisa Williams, founder and clinical director, The Autism Service, who was not involved in the study, told the Independent. Read full story Source: The Independent, 16 January 2026
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News Article
Epidural kit shortage could last until March, regulator says
Patient_Safety_Learning posted a news article in News
A shortage of epidural kits in the UK is expected to last until at least March, the government's medicines regulator has warned. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told healthcare providers in a patient safety alert earlier this month that the shortage followed manufacturing issues concerning epidural bags. Hospitals are being sent substitutes bags for the pain relief drug given to women in labour, while the Royal College of Anaesthetists is working with the NHS to advise hospitals on how to manage the situation. Medical staff have expressed concern about these plans, the BBC understands, though the NHS said women "should come forward for care as usual". Read full story Source: BBC, 21 December 2025 -
News ArticlePlaying calming instrumental music during surgery can improve patient recovery, a new study says. The peer-reviewed study was carried out at the Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College in India on patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery, the standard keyhole operation to remove the gallbladder. The research, published in the journal Music and Medicine, was conducted between March 2023 and January 2024, studying 56 patients, aged 18 to 65 years, to reduce anaesthetic requirement and aid in decreasing perioperative stress. Read full story Source: Independent, 25 November 2025
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Content ArticleIn this blog, Sling the Mesh discusses the powerful and thoughtful letter published in the journal Hernia by Nicholas T.H. Farr, titled “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence – Rethinking NHS England’s inguinal hernia surgery decision aid.” Farr’s letter challenges a key statement in NHS England’s decision support tool (DST) for inguinal hernia surgery, which claims that “none” of the patients experienced allergic or autoimmune reactions to hernia mesh. Farr rightly points out that such a definitive claim is not supported by the available evidence – and more importantly, that it misrepresents the uncertainty that still exists in the scientific literature. “Saying there is no evidence of an event is not the same as stating the event did not occur.” This distinction is vital. It goes to the heart of informed consent and patient trust. Farr’s letter highlights that while manufacturers of mesh products often include warnings about potential allergic reactions in their Instructions for Use (IFUs), the DST fails to reflect this nuance. Instead, it presents a level of certainty that the evidence simply doesn’t justify. Further reading on the hub from Nicholas Farr Medical device safety: effective testing is key
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Content ArticleLee Hall sits down with Kath Sansom, who campaigns for people suffering complications from mesh implanted during surgery. Kath talks about the difficulties they face with often unremovable mesh in their bodies, the legal action taken against manufacturers, and how this scandal affects trust in our medical system.
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News ArticlePeople from across the UK have shared their heartbreaking experiences of living with endometriosis - as they say the NHS is “failing” them. Living with the inflammatory condition is an uphill battle, from getting a diagnosis to navigating daily life and even accessing healthcare. For Endometriosis Awareness Month, National World launched the campaign Endo the Battle to amplify the voices of those living with endometriosis across the UK and highlight the challenges patients face. This campaign surveyed members of the public to share their stories with endometriosis. They received almost 400 responses, highlighting delays in getting a diagnosis, the crippling costs of paying for private care and knowledge gaps within the healthcare sector. Read full story Source: The Scotsman, 11 April 2025
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News Article
Almost 1.7 million hernia mesh implanted in NHS in 20 years
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Almost 1.7 million people have had hernia mesh surgery in the NHS since 2004, figures released by the NHS have revealed. The statistics do not include people who’ve had hernia mesh in private hospitals. Nobody can say how many are now suffering complications – because patients are not tracked for their lifetime. Yet campaigners and academics globally say it can take many years for mesh to cause problems- so the scale of suffering falls into a black hole of missing data. Moreover, support groups show that patients are being implanted with hernia mesh in their thousands ever year – but nobody is being given fully informed consent of the potential risks such as pain, loss of mobility, loss of sex life and losing the ability to have children. Also autoimmune diseases and allergies caused by the plastic mesh material. The figures came to light thanks to a Written Parliamentary Question asked by MP Sharon Hodgson, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm. In its response, The Department of Health say: “Clinicians are expected to inform patients about risks associated with recommended treatments, including reasonable alternatives, to enable informed consent and a balanced patient decision.” But campaign group Sling The Mesh says that the majority of people are told hernia mesh is ‘not the mesh in the media’, or it is a new mesh, or that this is a gold standard treatment and that mesh receives undeserved negative attention. Read full story Source: Sling the Mesh, 25 March 2025 -
News Article
Boots recalls paracetamol over labelling error
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The UK High Street pharmacy chain Boots is asking customers to return packs of 500-milligram paracetamol tablets because a labelling error incorrectly states they are a different painkiller, aspirin. More than 110,000 packs, with the batch number 241005 and expiry date "12/2029" on the bottom, are affected. Customers can receive a full refund without a receipt. Boots and the supplier, Aspar Pharmaceuticals Limited, have begun a full investigation. The outer cardboard packaging is correctly labelled: "Paracetamol 500mg Tablets" but the inner foil blister pack of pills instead reads: "Aspirin 300mg Dispersable Tablets". The affected packs should not be used or kept, even if the error is known, as this could lead to an incorrect dose. Dr Stephanie Millican, from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said: "Patient safety is always our priority. "It is vitally important that you check the packaging of your Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s - and if the batch number is 241005, you should stop using the product and return it to a Boots store for a full refund. "If you are unsure which pack you have purchased or have taken Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets and experienced any side effects, seek advice from a healthcare professional. "Please report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. "If you have any questions or require further advice, please seek advice from your pharmacist or other relevant healthcare professional." Read full story Source: BBC News, 4 March 2025
