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Susan McLarnon, a woman from Belfast who received a vaginal mesh implant to address prolapse and urinary incontinence, describes living with “constant pain” as she calls on the government to establish a firm deadline for a compensation scheme. She is part of a group of women traveling to Downing Street to deliver a letter to the prime minister, urging immediate action on redress for those harmed by pelvic mesh implants. Many women who underwent this surgery now suffer ongoing severe pain, losing the ability to walk, work, or engage in sexual activity.
The UK Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the serious impact these implants have had on patients and their families. Despite a major report issued two years ago calling for urgent measures, campaigners remain waiting for progress. The government has stated that it is “carefully considering” the recommendations and plans to provide an update in due course. McLarnon shared her experience before her operation in 2016, saying she was told the procedure to fix prolapse was straightforward and that risks were not fully explained. Post-surgery, she faced “excruciating pain,” requiring crutches to leave the hospital and experiencing lasting limitations in mobility and performing daily tasks.
McLarnon has undergone partial mesh removal surgery, but the pain persists. She is part of Sling the Mesh NI, a support group for affected individuals that now includes nearly 700 members. She describes herself as “one of the lucky ones,” with others having suffered more severe consequences such as organ loss, selling homes, and relationship breakdowns. She highlighted that men with hernia mesh implants also endure similar pain but are less likely to speak out due to the personal nature of their suffering. Dr. Henrietta Hughes, in her report, recommended initial compensation payments of £20,000 to women injured by mesh implants, alongside calls for the Northern Ireland Executive to establish a compensation scheme.
Vaginal and hernia mesh implants, intended to support weakened tissue and treat conditions like incontinence and prolapse, were considered a standard treatment for many years. However, the mesh can erode and harden over time, causing tissue damage, serious pain, and organ harm. Many women have been left unable to walk, work, or maintain intimate relationships due to these complications. Kath Sansom, founder of Sling The Mesh, expressed that pelvic mesh has “stolen women’s health, irreversibly ruined their quality of life, their independence, and their future.” Campaigners are demanding a government-funded compensation scheme with a clear timeline, including for those harmed by rectopexy mesh.
In Northern Ireland, the exact number of women affected by mesh implants remains unclear, although an estimated 5-10% of about 11,000 operations performed between 1998 and 2018 have resulted in problems. Data collection within local health trusts has also been inadequate. The Department of Health in Northern Ireland acknowledges the prolonged wait for responses following the Hughes Report recommendations, but notes that regulation of medical devices and medicines is a matter reserved for the UK Government. Consequently, the department says it cannot progress on the issue until the UK Government announces its position. It also confirmed that Professor Hughes wrote to the prime minister in March requesting a clear timetable for delivering financial redress without further delay
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