Following concern raised with him by a North Wales constituent, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has raised the issue of pain and suffering caused by vaginal mesh implants.

It has been announced that 800 women who had had vaginal mesh implants across the UK were suing the NHS, stating that these had caused them pain and suffering.

Speaking in the Assembly Chamber , Mr Isherwood called for a Statement on the issue from the Welsh Government Health Secretary, stating:

“The Minister will be aware that during the Assembly’s  Easter Recess this matter was covered extensively in the UK and Welsh press.

“I was contacted by a constituent in North Wales, who asked me to raise this here in the Senedd with the Welsh Government.

“She told me that in 2014, at Ysbyty Gwynedd, she had a mesh implant and has since suffered badly from left hip pain, left thigh pain, pelvic pain and intimate pain, as one of, as she says, several thousand women across the UK who are suffering from these implants.

“Media coverage in Wales at the time said that, despite the complications reported, the mesh is still available to women in Wales, and that the Welsh Government had confirmed to WalesOnline that treatment was still available on the Welsh NHS, but that enhanced guidelines were in place”.

The Leader of the House stated “We have, again, to maintain patient safety, reminded health boards to ensure they report any complications of surgery, and have given women who have had the procedure the option to self-report problems or adverse effects. And, clearly, it’s important that we put that on the record again today”.

ENDS