Mesh Survivors Ireland calls for retrospective audit

The request was made ahead of a meeting with Simon Harris, the minister for health.

Mesh Survivors Ireland (MSI) - a group of more than 500 women, are looking for both access to greater treatment options abroad, as well as a specialist centre within Ireland for implant removal.

Since 2018, the use of these devices was halted following controversy surrounding the mesh. Suspension of these devices is expected to remain in place until recommendations made by chief medical officer Tony Holohan are fully implemented.

MSI are requesting the suspension stays in place until a retrospective audit has taken place. MSI group member Lesley-Anne Stevens highlights how this is because, “they say only a minority of women are affected but they have no proof of this, as they’ve never counted how many have had implants.”

A spokesperson for Harris said he is committed to ensuring all patients presenting for treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and all women who develop mesh-related complications receive high quality multi-disciplinary care.

Following the meeting, solicitor Melanie Power who set up MSI described her talk with Harris as largely positive. Additionally, Power mentioned how there had been an agreement that patients’ experiences would be documented. The minister is to report back to the group with ideas on how to carry this out within a couple of weeks' time.