Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
565. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will open discussions with the CMO and the secretary general in relation to the urgent need to introduce urogynaecological mesh operations; why was this procedure not introduced in autumn 2023 as expected; if the Minister will do everything within his power to ensure that these operations are provided in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7693/24]
View answerUro-Gynaecological (Transvaginal) mesh is used in the surgical treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) in women and such mesh devices have been widely used for this over the past two decades. However, in late 2017, in line with emerging international evidence, concerns were raised at national level regarding the frequency and severity of complications associated with the use of transvaginal mesh devices. The then Minister for Health requested the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to prepare a report on the clinical and technical issues involved.
In November 2018, the CMO’s Report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures was published. The Report contains a number of recommendations regarding the safe and effective provision of mesh procedures in urogynaecology and an appropriate response to women who suffer complications as a result of undergoing such procedures. In July 2018, the CMO had asked the HSE to pause all mesh procedures where clinically safe to do so, pending confirmation of the implementation of specific recommendations in the CMO’s Report. This pause remains in place.
In 2023 the HSE established a National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group to oversee vaginal mesh implants in our HSE acute hospitals in terms of both primary implant surgery and tertiary complications services. The focus of this group is to review and assess implementation of the recommendations as set out in the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO’s) report ‘The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures, 2018’ and assess the appropriateness of resuming uro-gynaecological mesh procedures, cognisant of international developments and approaches in this complex area.
The focus for the HSE and the Department of Health remains the full implementation of the CMO’s Report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures and ensuring that women who require aftercare following mesh complications receive high quality, multidisciplinary patient centred care in accordance with the evidence and supported by robust clinical governance mechanisms.
The Department of Health is committed to ensuring women’s health services receive consistent expert and focused attention and it is important that both current and future service provision aligns with the needs of patients. The HSE Oversight Group has now submitted its draft report to Department of Health and officials are actively liaising with the HSE on a number of important aspects of this work to ensure comprehensive implementation of the CMO’s Report.
Listening to the experiences of women affected by mesh remains a key priority for the Department of Health. Work continues to progress with dedicated engagements with Mesh Survivors Ireland and Mesh Ireland and these engagements are central to the Department of Health’s review of the work of the HSE’s National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group and the future decision in relation to the ongoing pause in transvaginal mesh procedures.
