North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Cabinet Secretary for Health to consider the latest developments regarding mesh implants.
Addressing the Leader of the House during yesterday’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood, who has previously highlighted concerns in the Chamber regarding mesh implants, said the Health Secretary needs to consider developments regarding mesh implants in Australia and also concerns raised in the UK by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Referring to the Leader of the House’s statement the previous week that the Health Secretary had already made a commitment to bring forward a Statement on mesh implants, he said:
“Thus far, his statements, including written responses to me on behalf of constituents, have stated that he still believed that the benefits outweigh the risks.
“I would therefore be grateful if you could ensure that the Statement takes account of recent developments in this context. In Australia, their regulatory body in the Department of Health, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, has concluded that the benefits of using transvaginal mesh products in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse do not outweigh the risks these products pose to patients. They also consider that there is a lack of adequate scientific evidence before them to be satisfied that the risks to patients associated with the use of mesh products as single-incision mini-slings for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence are outweighed by their benefits, and Australia is removing these products from their Register of Therapeutic Goods.
“And, in the UK, it is reported that the health watchdog, NICE, has stated that vaginal mesh operations should be banned, and that, in the documents to be published after consultation this month, they said there were ‘serious but well-recognized safety concerns’. And, of course, use of the implants to treat both organ prolapse and urinary incontinence has already been suspended in Scotland. I would therefore be grateful, when the promised Statement is brought forward, if these developments could be brought into consideration.”
The Leader of the House, Julie James AM, replied: “In terms of vaginal mesh implants, the Cabinet Secretary heard what you had to say. There are obviously very serious issues to take into account here on both sides of that argument, and I'm sure he'll take those into account when he brings forward his statement in due course.”