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The ALLIANCE programme on woman’s experience of transvaginal mesh reviews activity in 20202

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 18th January 2021

We engaged with women affected by transvaginal mesh complications to support the review process and Fund.

In 2019, the Scottish Government Short Life Working Group on Transvaginal Mesh Complications (this link will take you away from our website) and the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Transvaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group (this link will take you away from our website) invited the ALLIANCE to undertake independent engagement work to give a voice to those with lived experience of complications following transvaginal mesh surgery.

All findings were included in the ‘My Life, My Experience’ report and highlighted the diverse experiences of 46 women from across Scotland. We found that for all the women that contributed, the complications were significant and for many life changing. The women affected also shared their views on how to improve care following mesh procedures. The ALLIANCE is grateful to have been trusted by all women to share their experiences and views.

The ALLIANCE was then invited to work with women with lived experience to co-design the case note review process. The case note review intended to give women the opportunity to set out their concerns about treatment and then examine this with clinicians alongside their notes. These views were outlined and put forward to the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland in 2020.

This extensive engagement work contributed to the launch of the £1 million Mesh Injured Women’s Fund. This was a significant milestone for women affected by transvaginal mesh complications (this link takes you away from our website). This fund was set up to allow women to have greater access to practical or emotional support as they see most appropriate. The ALLIANCE is pleased to have supported this piece of work by holding co-design focus group events and directly involving and asking a sample of women how they felt the fund should be allocated.

In 2021, the ALLIANCE is set to deliver two engagement sessions on what a new national service could look like through which we will continue to ensure a strong voice for those with lived experience. These sessions will be posted on the ALLIANCE events page.

Reports of other ALLIANCE programme activities during 2020 can be found in our News section.

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