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| Mesh victims still wait for financial compensation | Mesh victims still wait for financial compensation |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| More than 100,000 women are believed to have had mesh implants fitted between 2007 and 2015 | More than 100,000 women are believed to have had mesh implants fitted between 2007 and 2015 |
| Women harmed by pelvic mesh implants are still waiting for government compensation a year after a major report, external called for urgent action. | Women harmed by pelvic mesh implants are still waiting for government compensation a year after a major report, external called for urgent action. |
| Patient safety commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes, who made that recommendation, called it "an injustice" for the thousands of lives destroyed. | Patient safety commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes, who made that recommendation, called it "an injustice" for the thousands of lives destroyed. |
| Some women were left in permanent pain, unable to walk, work or have sex, after the surgery to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. | Some women were left in permanent pain, unable to walk, work or have sex, after the surgery to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. |
| The government says it remains "fully focused" on how best to support patients and prevent harm. | The government says it remains "fully focused" on how best to support patients and prevent harm. |
| A Department of Health and Social Care official said: "Our sympathies are with those affected. | A Department of Health and Social Care official said: "Our sympathies are with those affected. |
| "This is a complex area of work and Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron met with some of those affected before Christmas, and has committed to providing an update to the patient safety commissioner at the earliest opportunity." | "This is a complex area of work and Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron met with some of those affected before Christmas, and has committed to providing an update to the patient safety commissioner at the earliest opportunity." |
| Birth defects | Birth defects |
| Dr Hughes said: "It is very disappointing that women who have suffered so much harm are still waiting for redress. | Dr Hughes said: "It is very disappointing that women who have suffered so much harm are still waiting for redress. |
| "They need redress now and the government must act immediately." | "They need redress now and the government must act immediately." |
| Pelvic mesh was considered the gold-standard treatment for incontinence and prolapse in women for many years, to give weak or damaged tissue extra support. | Pelvic mesh was considered the gold-standard treatment for incontinence and prolapse in women for many years, to give weak or damaged tissue extra support. |
| But the net-like implant can erode and harden, cutting through tissue and causing serious pain. | But the net-like implant can erode and harden, cutting through tissue and causing serious pain. |
| The Hughes report also called on government to act quickly to help victims of another treatment scandal, involving an epilepsy medication. | The Hughes report also called on government to act quickly to help victims of another treatment scandal, involving an epilepsy medication. |
| If taken during pregnancy, sodium valproate can cause major birth defects - but for decades, women were not properly warned about the risks. | If taken during pregnancy, sodium valproate can cause major birth defects - but for decades, women were not properly warned about the risks. |
| An estimated 20,000 children were exposed to the drug in the womb - and many now live with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism. | An estimated 20,000 children were exposed to the drug in the womb - and many now live with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism. |
| Joanne Cozens, who took sodium valproate during pregnancy, worries about how she will look after her son | Joanne Cozens, who took sodium valproate during pregnancy, worries about how she will look after her son |
| Joanne Cozens, whose son Thomas has Asperger's syndrome, said she was not properly informed of the dangers before she became pregnant. | Joanne Cozens, whose son Thomas has Asperger's syndrome, said she was not properly informed of the dangers before she became pregnant. |
| She is one of many parents awaiting compensation and told BBC News: "Families have been struggling for decades now. | She is one of many parents awaiting compensation and told BBC News: "Families have been struggling for decades now. |
| "We need justice." | "We need justice." |
| Dr Hughes has recommended initial payments of £100,000 for sodium-valproate victims and £20,000 for women injured by mesh, followed by further payments for some, as well as some non-financial assistance to victims and their families. | Dr Hughes has recommended initial payments of £100,000 for sodium-valproate victims and £20,000 for women injured by mesh, followed by further payments for some, as well as some non-financial assistance to victims and their families. |
| Some women have already received undisclosed payouts from three mesh manufacturers, Bard, Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson. | Some women have already received undisclosed payouts from three mesh manufacturers, Bard, Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson. |
| Get in touch | |
| Have you been impacted by any of the issues raised in this story? |