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Amy Hughes submission of 29 June 2021

PE1865/V - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Several years ago a family member (in her 50s, very fit and active woman) underwent what was supposedly routine surgery to repair a groin hernia, with mesh, which was causing some discomfort. The result of this surgery for her was endless chronic pain, fatigue, loss of concentration and therefore difficulties in returning to work. I watched her decline from this surgery, unable to get any help from doctors who continuously brushed off concerns that the mesh was causing these symptoms. They were just giving her more painkillers to deal with the problems, and eventually she required a wheelchair to move around.

She eventually made the decision to travel to get help, privately, from a surgeon who had successfully removed mesh from many women in the same situation. After the surgery she was informed that her body had suffered a gross inflammatory reaction to the mesh, that the mesh had curled up, moved from the original position and stuck firmly to the pubic bone, it had to be chiselled off and was a difficult operation. Our family are greatly appreciative of this surgeon who was so willing to help and who was very open and honest about the effects of the mesh, where previously it seemed that no one was aware of the problems it could bring about. The family member is doing better, however still requires help moving around and has not been able to return to work full time. This has left her and her husband in a position of having to leave their home of 17 years in order to get by.

I have personally read many similar accounts from women and men, who have struggled to be heard and often feel brushed off by their doctors. There is a large support network among those affected and their friends and family members online. Everyone has their own story of pain and suffering, some much worse than we have witnessed ourselves. You need only search briefly online to find hundreds of other accounts of this kind.

We have been informed many times that there are other methods for repairing hernias other than mesh, and that there is no reason not to use these methods, other than the personal knowledge of the surgeon. There is therefore no reason to keep actively using devices that are causing so much distress to so many.

In my view, mesh has to be removed from being an option before it destroys any other lives. It is disheartening, that in the year 2021, it is still such a difficult and lengthy process to even get a review of a procedure which has been complained about for years. I believe that mesh should no longer be an option, and there should be more knowledge/training within the medical community of the foreign body objects which are inserted into people under the guise of routine. Certainly, I do not think there should be any doubt or difficulties when a person asks for help.