Transvaginal mesh: short-life working group

Overview

This group, established in March 2019, considers the care provided for women who experience complications following vaginal mesh surgery in Scotland.

In doing so the group:

• considers the physical and psychological needs of women who experience complications following vaginal mesh surgery
• considers sharing experience, techniques and learning with colleagues in Europe, the USA and elsewhere. For this to be successful it is important that surgeons and clinical teams engage with counterparts of proven merit and who are regarded by the professionals as leaders and innovators in their field
• reviews the course and organisation of care for patients suffering complications in Scotland with a broader UK perspective
• examines the complex education and training requirements we must have to ensure a sustainable and resilient high quality service
• identifies the resource requirements to provide the service our patients need

Declaration of interests 

Members of the group and all those attending a meeting must complete a declaration of interests form. At the beginning of each meeting declared interests will be confirmed verbally and recorded along with declared changes in the minute.  

Where declared interests are updated a new form will be completed and be added to this site. 

Minutes 

Minutes of each meeting are published after they are formally agreed by the membership. You can find them at the bottom of this page under documents.

Read the transvaginal mesh short-life working group report

Related groups

• Transvaginal mesh: accountable officers group

Members

Chair 

• Terry O’Kelly, CMO, Senior Medical Officer

Accountable officers: 

• Sham Konamme, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• Faye Rodger, NHS Borders
• Heather Currie, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Carolyn McKinley, NHS Fife
• Klara Ekevall, NHS Forth Valley
• Christine Hemming, NHS Grampian
• Alan Mathers, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Ibrahim Alsharaydeh, NHS Highland
• Ans Khan, NHS Lanarkshire
• Tracey Gillies, NHS Lothian
• Peter Fowlie, NHS Tayside
• Marthius Roos, NHS Orkney
• Brian Chittick, NHS Shetland
• Angus McKellar, NHS Western Isles

Representing Scottish mesh survivors

• Wael Agur, Subspecialist and Lead Urogynaecologist, NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Healthcare Improvement Scotland 

• Lorna McKee, Chair, TVMO Group
• Kelly MacDonald, TVMO Programme Manager
• Karen Ritchie, Acting Director of Evidence, Head of Knowledge and Information

Scottish Government

• Sara Davies, Public Health Consultant
• David Bishop, Directorate for Health Finance, Corporate Governance and Value
• Alexandra Rice, Clinical Fellow

Others 

• Alex Stirling, NHS NSS, ISD
• Jackie Montgomery, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Physiotherapy Lead
• Craig Wheelans, National Medical Advisor (Procurement, Commissioning and Facilities) NHS National Services Scotland

Further Information

If you’re experiencing symptoms or health issues with a mesh implant, you should not hesitate contact your GP or consultant.  Meanwhile, general information about vaginal mesh can be found on NHS Inform.

Mesh Fund

NHS Inform also provides information concerning the Scottish Government’s Mesh Fund.  Affected women can apply for £1,000 payment from the fund. You are entitled to apply for payment if:

• you’ve received a transvaginal mesh implant either from or on behalf of an NHS Scotland Health Board, and
• you’ve experienced complications resulting from that implant and, at your own expense, you’ve had to pay for emotional or practical support

This is a one-off fund, which will run between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021. After this date no further payments will be made.

All applications must be received by 31 May 2021 to allow for confirmation and payment by the 30 June 2021. No applications will be accepted after this date.

Publications