Fury as health chiefs U-turn on dramatic decision to ban vaginal mesh

Health chiefs have today announced a dramatic U-turn on the proposed ban on 'barbaric' vaginal mesh implants, prompting fury among campaigners.

NICE declared two years ago the implants should be outlawed for prolapse – a common childbirth issue that causes the organs to fall out of place.

However, the Government body has backtracked on its decision, despite having no new scientific evidence to prove the procedure is safe.

Furious victims of the procedure have slammed the announcement by NICE, which advises the NHS.

Kath Sansom, founder of campaign group Sling The Mesh (STM), described the guidelines as being an 'institutional betrayal of women'.

NICE declared two years ago the implants should be outlawed for prolapse – a common childbirth issue that causes the organs to fall out of place

NICE declared two years ago the implants should be outlawed for prolapse – a common childbirth issue that causes the organs to fall out of place

She told MailOnline: 'Amid a sea of misogyny and pro-mesh use, our voices have been completely ignored – despite our years of fighting for justice.'

Ms Sansom added: 'It's Groundhog Day. They [NICE] are ignoring the elephant sitting on the kitchen table. 

'And they have opened the floodgates for thousands of women, including our daughters and granddaughters, to be maimed by mesh in future.' 

NICE faced backlash from STM when it announced in December 2017 that vaginal mesh implants should only be banned for prolapse and not incontinence.

At the time, its draft guidelines said mesh – considered high risk by officials in the US for a decade – should 'only be used in the context of research' for the condition.

But the final guidelines state surgeons should offer surgery for pelvic organ prolapse to women whose symptoms have not improved from non-surgical treatments.

One of the surgery methods it lists includes mesh. The implants are also listed for incontinence, the more common procedure mesh is dished out to treat.

In the guidance, NICE said: 'There is evidence of benefit [of vaginal mesh to treat the condition] but limited evidence on the long-term adverse effects.'

'In particular, the true prevalence of long-term complications is unknown,' the guidance states.

NICE was also criticised when last summer it admitted the guidelines it had been working on would not be ready this February, as originally planned.

It said the final guidelines would not be prepared for publication until April 2. The final recommendations will be sent to all medics working across the NHS.

The guidelines do, however, state that women should try a range of techniques before mesh is even considered for either incontinence or prolapse.

For the former, lifestyle interventions, such as cutting down on caffeine, weight loss and pelvic floor muscle training, are recommended before surgery.

Non-surgical options for prolapse also include pelvic floor muscle training, as well as avoiding heavy lifting and treating constipation. 

Meanwhile, NICE said a national database should be set up to record all procedures involving the use of surgical mesh in incontinence and prolapse operations.

However, in its guidelines it admits 'it is not possible to know in advance what will happen to any individual woman' who undergoes surgery for either condition.

Thousands of women have been maimed by the controversial implants globally, left on the brink of suicide, unable to work and reliant on wheelchairs

 Thousands of women have been maimed by the controversial implants globally, left on the brink of suicide, unable to work and reliant on wheelchairs

The vaginal mesh scandal came to light in April 2017, when the NHS was accused of dodging media attention over the implants that left hundreds of women in agony. 

Dr Paul Chrisp, director for the centre for guidelines at NICE, said the guidance will ensure 'every woman considering surgery for urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse has the best evidence currently available to inform her of the benefits and risks of each type of procedure'.

He added: 'It will ensure each woman is able to decide, with the help of her clinician, which option is best for her. This might include the decision not to have surgery at all.' 

Labour MP Owen Smith, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Surgical Mesh, said the guidelines 'do not go far enough in acknowledging the terrible problems many women have faced following mesh surgery'.

'I am deeply disappointed that the updated guidelines appear to disregard mesh-injured women's experiences by stating that there is no long-term evidence of adverse effects.

'Thousands of women have faced life-changing injuries following mesh surgery and they must not be ignored.'

Mr Smith added: 'While I am pleased that Nice is now advising against mesh as a first-line treatment for incontinence, the new guidelines fail to clearly outline that mesh should only be used once conservative methods have failed and when non-mesh surgery has failed.

'It is vital that a proper continence care pathway is established, with surgery as a last

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