Nicola Sturgeon should ban mesh products

30 March 2017

The mesh implant scandal has caused misery for hundreds of women in Scotland.

The implants are medical devices used by doctors to treat a number of conditions such as incontinence and other issues that can occur after childbirth.

Some women have reported severe and constant abdominal and vaginal pain following the surgery, with some women experiencing infections, bleeding and even paralysis. Many have said their original incontinence symptoms have not been improved by the surgery.

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Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale raised the scandal at First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday. She called on Nicola Sturgeon to ban the use of mesh products in Scotland’s NHS which have left hundreds of women paralysed and in horrific pain.

An independent review of the use of mesh has been beset by scandal with survivors and clinicians resigning from the review group claiming the report has been compromised and ‘whitewashed’. Former SNP Health Secretary Alex Neil branded the final review report as “totally unacceptable”.

At First Minister’s Questions Kezia Dugdale read out an email from the daughter of a mesh survivor to the SNP Health Secretary Shona Robison, which detailed the impact of mesh implants on the lives of countless women in Scotland. The email was sent at 2.30am on Thursday morning while Sophie cared for her mother.

The email said:

Ms Robinson,

I'm contacting you this morning as you announce the MESH INDEPENDENT INQUIRY.
HOW CAN YOU?!!!!
I attended Parliament, when you apologised to my Mum, who is a member of Scottish mesh survivors. I saw hope and maybe relief in my sick, disabled mums eyes.
You see Im struggling to remember my mum, before took her from me, no she's not dead, but she is a shell of the mum I'd previously loved adored and inspired by.

You have to come live a day in our life, on the days when the pain is so bad, my fiercely independent mum, can't even brush her teeth.

I come home to share my apprenticeship and life's troubles etc, and my loving mum is so doped out her head , I know she won't remember our conversation. She blames herself for my lack of education, but it's hard to concentrate at school knowing your mums home crying in pain.

You know Ms Robison, my mum once thought and planned taking her own life, but something stopped her, a few days later she read "Hear our voice". She had a sparkle back in her eye, as she was  no longer alone or Unique. I believe finding Scottish mesh survivors, saved my mum.

But Ms Robison, your Independent inquiry, is flawed so badly that your going to allow another family, young girl ( I'm 18,my mums been ill since I was 11) to experience this journey and that's so wrong.
I had hoped you were going to prevent a child ,living like me.

I'm the next generation of Scottish woman, who you Catherine Calderwood MHRA , HAVE FAILED.

I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT," its 2:19 am, and my mum has a UTI, and in extreme pain is now in my bed, with me, as her pain meds cause her to be unsteady on her feet, and I need her to be safe. i deserve to have my mum here for all my Firsts..

So let down
Sophie (18)

Speaking after First Minister's Questions, Kezia Dugdale said:

“Scottish mesh survivors are a group of women whose lives have been destroyed by a medical procedure that was supposed to help them get better.

“The heart-breaking story of Sophie, the 18-year old daughter of a mesh survivor, shows the devastating impact the mesh scandal has had on the lives of hundreds of women.

“One woman I spoke with can’t sit down without excruciating pain and others have been paralysed. These women feared that the review into the use of mesh products would be a whitewash but that’s exactly what it is.

“The mesh review was a cover-up. It is a national scandal. Nicola Sturgeon must listen to the mesh survivors and ban this dangerous practice.”