NHS suspends all vaginal mesh procedures

The NHS has suspended all vaginal mesh procedures for treatment of stress induced urinary incontinence after reviewing a report into safety concerns. The report found that some women had suffered devastating complications from the quick fix procedure as a result of the mesh cutting into surrounding tissue and organs.

The review led by Baroness Julia Cumberlege came to the conclusion that they found no evidence on the benefits for treating urinary incontinence that would outweigh “the severity of human suffering caused by mesh complications”.

“We strongly believe that mesh must not be used to treat women with stress urinary incontinence until we can manage the risk of complications much more effectively,” she said. “We have not seen evidence on the benefits of mesh that outweighs the severity of human suffering caused by mesh complications. I have been appalled at the seriousness and scale of the tragic stories we have heard from women and their families. We have heard from many women who are suffering terribly.”