At HHD solicitors our experienced medical negligence team are currently assisting women who are pursuing claims following vaginal mesh procedures.

Transvaginal meshes (TVMs) and Tension free vaginal tape (TVTs) commonly known as vaginal mesh have been routinely used by the NHS from 2000 onwards to provide extra support to repair weakened or damaged tissue as an alternative to traditional open surgery. Vaginal mesh is often used after childbirth, after a hysterectomy, to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence in women. A TVT procedure typically takes 30 minutes and is performed using keyhole surgery. Patients are often discharged home the same day. After being placed in the body, the mesh becomes embedded in the surrounding tissue and is designed to be permanent. Full removal can require hours of surgery with risks including damage to nerves and nearby organs, including the bladder and bowel.

Unfortunately, it has become apparent in recent years that the alleged effective solution to bladder and organ prolapse in woman has an array of complications which has resulted in women suffering painful, debilitating and often permanent symptoms including:

• Long lasting pain
• Mesh erosion
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Internal cuts
• Protrusion
• Pain during sex
• Pain to sexual partners
• Organ perforation
• Urinary problems including incontinence and constipation
• Mesh exposure through vaginal tissues and occasionally injury to nearby organs, such as the bladder or bowel

These symptoms have also directly impacted on women’s mental health with reports of depression, suicidal thoughts, etc. Thousands of women in the UK opted for the vaginal mesh and were unaware of the severity of the complications which have now come to light. Many of these complications require additional treatment including surgery.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recently published new guidance stating that vaginal mesh should only be used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse under research circumstances. Senior doctors have called for a public inquiry into the use of vaginal mesh surgery.

Johnson & Johnson are understood to produce the majority of vaginal mesh products used in the UK.

Large class actions were initially launched in the USA and Australia against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, Ethicon. Around £2 billion has been paid out in the USA to date. Sky News has reported there are more than 55,000 women globally suing Johnson & Johnson. In the UK actions have been commenced against the NHS and the manufacturer with the media saying this could become the biggest medical case in UK history.

In 2013 anyone being advised to have this procedure should have been made well aware of any potential risk. Many are still not fully aware and are still being offered vaginal mesh implants (TVT) without an explanation of risk. Do you feel you were not given the facts and made fully aware of complications from TVT Surgery / Implants?

At HHD solicitors, we have taken instructions from a number of women who have suffered adverse effects as a result of TVT.  If you have undergone a vaginal mesh procedure in a hospital in Northern Ireland and are suffering from symptoms, please get in touch with our specialist medical negligence team. We will deal with your case in a sensitive and confidential manner and we have over 25 years’ experience dealing with medical claims and have settled the largest medical negligence case in NI, fionasterritt@hhdsolicitors.com, laurenjones@hhdsolicitors.com and damiandeazley@hhdsolicitors.com