Vaginal mesh surgery: I had to go abroad and pay thousands for surgery that, up until 2018, was free to women in this country’

In 2018, the HSE put a pause on vaginal mesh surgeries for urinary incontinence, following reports of complications. Seven years on many, including doctors working in the field, are calling for the pause to be lifted

Una Ní Chormaic had to seek vaginal mesh surgery abroad after the pause was implemented in Ireland. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Gemma Fullam

On May 14, at Leinster House, Fine Gael TD Colm Burke hosted a group of medical experts and patients, all of whom have a common purpose: lifting the pause on vaginal mesh surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which has been in place in Ireland since 2018.

Several ministers attended – the health minister did not. The medics outlined the extensive changes that have been implemented since the pause, including the completion of all of the recommendations advised by the chief medical officer (CMO), while the patients gave very personal accounts of their experiences of SUI, including the cost and inconvenience of having to go abroad for this surgery.