South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has welcomed a consultation on Transvaginal Mesh Surgery coming to Dumfries.

Transvaginal Mesh Surgery is where mesh is used in reconstruction surgery when there has been a prolapse of a female’s Uterus. A number of females who have undergone surgery where mesh is used have suffered from mesh exposure and erosion. This has led to affected women suffering in pain before often requiring surgical excision and in some cases three surgical procedures.

The Scottish Government were forced to halt the use of mesh in surgical procedures.

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) are carrying out a series of consultations to gather the life experiences of females who have experienced or are currently experiencing complications of Transvaginal Mesh Surgery. The life experiences will be collated and used to inform and Engagement Report which will be submitted to the Scottish Government to apprise future options.

As part of their consultation the Alliance are hosting a pop up cafe at the Station Hotel, 49 Lovers Walk, Dumfries, DG1 1LT between 11am and 7pm. A focus group will also be ran between 1pm and 2pm on Thursday 15th August.

Colin Smyth said, “It is unacceptable that women received treatment to cure pain using medical mesh devices, only for it to lead to mesh exposure and erosion and cause just as much or more pain. I would encourage females who have had an experience of this treatment to take part in this important consultation.”

Irene Oldfather, Director of the ALLIANCE said, “We are aware that there are many stories and experiences of woman throughput Dumfries and Galloway that could contribute to our report on hearing the voices of women with experience of mesh surgery.   Please come along to our Pop Up cafe in Dumfries and speak to our experienced staff so that future pathways can be influenced”.

For anyone who is unable to attend the pop up café, one-to-one interviews can be carried out by phoning 07872 149588. Or alternatively, and online survey can be carried out at linkhttps://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/CapturingLivedExperienceofComplicationsFollowingTransvaginalMeshSurgery .