More than 100 women who experienced pain as a result of transvaginal mesh implants have received payouts from three manufacturers of the products expected to be in the “millions”.
The financial settlement offered by companies Bard, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson has not been publicly disclosed but it is believed that the three companies have had to shell out mega money in what is the first successful group claim in England.
It is believed many more than 10,000 women were injured by the mesh implants, which were put in place in the hope of treating incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
The damage of the implants left female victims in permanent pain and unable to walk, work or have sex.
Lisa Lunt, partner at law firm Pogust Goodhead, headed the action on behalf of the group.
She said although her claim was successful, it could be just the tip of the iceberg as many women had been left behind with the lawsuit.
She said: "Hundreds of women were prevented from making a claim due to strict 10-year time limits that are in force from the date that the product was manufactured.
"It’s about time that the government took action to increase the time limits.”
Kath Sansom, from campaign group Sling the Mesh, agreed and said she believes the true number of these affected could hit the 40,000 mark.
She said that it was "ground-breaking" to achieve the successful group action but only a fraction will receive a payout, with around 10 per cent to 20 per cent of those initially given mesh implants suffering painful complications.
What is vaginal mesh?
Also known as pelvis mesh, it is a net-like implant usually made of synthetic materials or animal tissue, and was initially diagnosed as a treatment option to help women who suffered with incontinence.
It was also used to treat women at risk of prolapse, or who had suffered one. But, as the years went by, it was eventually found that the mesh can erode and harden, cutting through tissue inside the body.
Earlier this year, England's patient safety commissioner called on the government to act quickly to help victims of pelvic mesh implants after a 2020 review found many lives had been ruined because women's concerns about treatments they had been given had been ignored, due to medival misogyny.
The three mesh manufacturers involved have issued statements since the ruling.
Bard confirmed that legal action brought by the firm on behalf of the women had been resolved "without any admission of liability”.
Boston Scientific said the action by claimants had been "successfully resolved without any admission of misconduct or liability”.
Johnson & Johnson said the action against the company over transvaginal mesh devices had been resolved.
According to The Guardian, the total payout is expected to run into millions of pounds.
