Prime Minister’s announcement on mesh devices welcomed by Deeside MP Mark Tami

Theresa May’s announcement today that there will be a review into the use of controversial mesh devices has been welcomed by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami.

Mr Tami and the late Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant campaigned on behalf of an affected constituent Maxine Cooper to suspend the use of mesh.

Mesh operations are supposed to fix prolapse and incontinence however women who have had them have reported long-term devastating side effects.

The Deeside MP called the use of mesh a “national scandal” at a Westminster debate last October.

Campaigners have long called for a public inquiry into the use of mesh after it was revealed that more than 800 women are taking legal action against the NHS and the makers of vaginal mesh implants.

Mark Tami welcomed the commitment, especially as the Government had previously responded by saying the problem lies not with the product, but with the procedure, and failed to commit to a public inquiry or suspension of the product.

Mark Tami said; “This is a bitter sweet moment for me because it is fantastic that the Prime Minister is finally recognising the need for change, however it is bitter in the fact that it took so long for these women to be heard.

These women must be listened to during the review so we can learn from what they have been through and proper processes must be put in place to stop this happening in the future.

The pockets of shareholders and CEOs of medical device companies have been lined for long enough and it is good to see the Government finally putting patients before profits.

It is a shame that the the product will not be suspended until the reviews have been undertaken, however this is certainly a step in the right direction and is a credit to the hard work put in by campaigners.”