Hello, its wednesday, its ten oclock, im Victoria Derbyshire and were live from new broadcasting house. Today, we can exlusively reveal that more than 100 different types of mesh implants are being sewn into hernia patients by nhs in england and scotland and many of them havent been properly tested. I hope that somebody can fix me, somebody can help. If i was told this is the life for me and there was nothing they could do, i dont think i want to live it. There are claims that patients are being treated like guinea pigs because certain types of mesh implants which are permanent are being used based on little or no medical evidence. There might be Something Like five rabbits. And youve taken a bit of the mesh. Youve thrown a bit of the mesh inside the rabbit and youve left it
there for five days. If there is no immune reaction, you pass the test and thats it. Nearly 300 people contacted us after our programme on hernia mesh back in 2018. Athletes who can no longer compete, parents who cant carry their children and people who were once active, now housebound, lonely, and have told us they often feel suicidal because of the pain. Weve set up a database of 100 people and done Detailed Research into how the mesh has affected them. Some of those patients are here in the studio today along with surgeons, politicians and lawyers. Get in touch if youve been affected. Plus weve been leaked footage from a promotional video from ten years ago for one type of mesh which shows how it can become rock hard inside the body. Its still being sold to the nhs. Again you can see how stiff this mesh is. This is a mesh tumour. You can see what it looks
like on the back table, how hard this mesh is. You can picture why she could feel this mesh in essentially every movement. Hi, welcome to the programme. Were live until 11 this morning. Today were talking mesh. Thank you for some of your messages. Donato on email, now my fifth repair awaiting a consultation now or looking at going private. I have never been given options other than mesh nor properly explained to me. Pam on email i am not disabled by it but it has placed restrictions on my lifestyle as i need dressings every day, which for the most part i now do myself. There must be other people like me who have this problem without suffering the extreme pain that roseana and others experience. That is true, there are many people who dont have any problems with
hernia mesh, but 10 do, who dont have any problems with hernia mesh, but10 do, it who dont have any problems with hernia mesh, but 10 do, it seems, end up in chronic pain. Alan i too was given a hernia patch when i was in my mid 50s, suffering discomfort after a period of about a year i contacted my local gp, referred to hospitalfor tests then seen a specialist who told me that i could not feel the patch, it was impossible, and that it could not be causing any pain, it was my imagination. I am now 70 and it still causes me discomfort, must still be my imagination speak thank you for those. If you are having issues, or if you are one of those people where the hernia mesh repair has been transformational, get on air, send an e mail. We are devoting the whole programme to this today, put your
phone number in the e mail and it would be easy for us to get back in touch. Use the hashtag victorialive. First, annita has the news. The governments multi Million Pound bailout of Airline Flybe has been criticised by one of its major rivals, and by environmental campaigners. Willie walsh chief executive of the company that owns British Airways called the move a blatant misuse of public funds that would see the taxpayer pick up the bill for mismanagement, while the green partys Caroline Lucas said plans for a review of air Passenger Duty on domestic flights would hamper efforts to cut carbon emissions. The mail on sunday has published its defence in the legal case brought by the duchess of sussex over its publication of a letter she wrote to her father. The newspaper says there is a legitimate Public Interest in the activities of the royal family and that the duchess couldnt have expected to letter to remain private. Meanwhile, meghan has made her first public appearance since she and prince harry announced their intention to step down as senior members
of the royal family. The Downtown Eastside centre, a womens refuge in vancouver, posted this picture on facebook of her with staff and visitors. Storm brendans caused disruption across parts of the country overnight, with strong winds bringing down trees and damaging buildings. In slough, the storm ripped the roof off this apartment block, leaving it strewn across the high street. Elsewhere, roads and rail lines were blocked, while at one tube station in west london, the roof collapsed on to the tracks. In america, an investigation is under way after a passenger plane dumped fuel over schools while making an Emergency Landing at los angeles airport. Around a0 people, most of them children, were treated for skin irritation and breathing problems. The Delta Airlines flight experienced mechanical problems shortly after take off. The fuel was released to reduce the aircrafts weight to allow it to land safely. Pre teen girls are increasingly being tricked and coerced into performing sexually over their own webcams, according to internet watchdogs. Data gathered by the internet watch foundation, which monitors online child sexual abuse, suggests that the number of girls between the ages of ii and 13 being coerced to make explicit images via the internet is growing at what they call an alarming rate. It claims that a third of all web pages featuring images of child sexual abuse now consist of self generated images, mostly by girls in a domestic setting. There are fears that ash from the australian bushfires could pollute the water supply in that state of new south wales. Several hundred thousand hectares of land have been burned around a dam which provides most of sydneys water supply. Rain is forecast and its feared this could wash debris and ash into reservoirs. Asummary of a summary of the main story so far. Back to you. Were going to devote much of the Programme Today to our latest revelations on the use of mesh to treat hernias. We have patients, surgeons and politicians here in the studio today, and it goes without saying if you are affected becasue you have a hernia mesh or think you have a hernia mesh, do get in touch. We can reveal more than 100 different types of mesh devices to treat hernias by nhs trusts england and scotland are being sewn into patients when some havent been subjected to clinical tests. Its led to the claim that patients are being treated like guinea pigs because certain types of mesh implants which are permanent are being used based on little or no medical evidence. Its nearly three years since we first revealed hundreds of women were taking legal action after experiencing complications following vaginal mesh repairs. That operation has been suspended for the majority of women while a government review takes place. Hernia mesh repairs, however, continue. Since october weve been repeatedly asking to interview the government, Health Bodies and leading surgeons about this but, again and again, weve been turned down by the governments medicines and healthca re products regulatory agency, the mhra, by the Royal College of surgeons, by nhs england and the department of health, and by the British Hernia Society. Its never too late though so if the Health Secretary or any Junior Health minsters or any of you are watching, we can talk to via facetime or skype or over the phone, just text us on 61124 or send me an email victoria bbc. Co. Uk. In the meantime, heres our reporter anna collinsons first film. A hernia mesh repair is supposed to be a simple procedure. But once the permanent device is implanted, it can be extremely dangerous to remove. This means if something goes wrong, many patients have to live with the complications, like chronic pain. I hope that someone can fix me, somebody can help me. If i was told this is the life for me, and there was nothing they can do, i dont think i want to live it. Scrubbing brush, that i just took from my sink. Experts are now warning basic Household Appliances undergo more tests than some types of mesh devices. Thats how irresponsible this is. People are putting more thought into these disposable cups than they are putting into the mesh. These vacuoles are where the mesh fibres used to be. We have been leaked shocking footage that shows mesh manufacturers are aware of the possible complications, but have kept selling it anyway, including to the nhs. And as we exclusively revealed, the nhs has purchased more than 100 different types of mesh. Experts are warning trusts
are using too many implants, with little or no medical evidence. But surgeons who use mesh insist these fears are nothing more than scaremongering, and that the majority of patients live healthy lives, complication free. Hernia repair is one of the worlds most common surgical procedures, most often in the groin. Using mesh has been surgeons preferred choice for over three decades, because its cheaper than previous methods and requires less time in hospital. It also appeared to reduce complication rates and the chances of a hernia returning. More than 20 million operations are performed globally every year. In england, its around 100,000. The majority go well. The hernia mesh industry is worth billions of pounds. But as the number of devices has rapidly increased, regulation has not. Hi, chris. Hi, anna. Hi, how are you . Good, thanks. How are you . Chris de armitt is a chemist who focuses on plastics. He has been an Expert Witness in vaginal mesh lawsuits in the us, where he lives. What happens when mesh is implanted in a human body . The first thing that happens as it gets rejected. Your body says, hey, theres a foreign part in here. Just like it would if you had a splinter, youd get an inflamation, your body tries to react to this foreign body and take care of it, and in the best case, remove it. For most, this initial reaction subsides. But for some, like david ellis, who we interviewed in 2018, the reaction continues. 0ver months or years, the mesh can weaken, it can become sharp, cutting into tissue and nerves, making the simplest of movements extremely painful. Most mesh products are made from plastic polypropylene, and part of chriss job is rigorously testing plastics
to see if they are suitable and safe to be used in household items. He was stunned when he discovered how little long term testing had been done on some mesh devices. Designing dishwashers or vacuum cleaners, or automotive parts, you go really nuts with your tests. You have Brand Reputation and the safety of your customer in mind. So to think that wasnt done in the medical case is especially shocking. Why should people be listening to you, when you talk about mesh . Two reasons. One is that ive spent my whole life in plastic materials, and im considered a world expert in it. And secondly, i have no motivation to favour one side or the other. Im speaking to you unpaid, because i think the public deserve to know the truth. This programme has been contacted by nearly 300 people who have experienced problems following a hernia mesh repair. Complications include chronic pain, infections, mesh erosion and organ perforation. 100 of those people volunteered to answer a series of questions about their experiences, and to be part of the Victoria Derbyshire programmes
hernia mesh data base. 0ur100 contributors come from across the uk. The youngest is just 12 years old. The oldest, 79. We have had some really distressing cases. Athletes who can no longer compete, parents who cant carry their children, and people who were once active, now housebound, lonely and who have told us they often feel suicidal because of the pain. Rosanna clarkins story was one of the most shocking. She had a hernia repair in 2015, but had no idea doctors had used mesh on her. She says she was told recovery would take weeks. The mum of two delayed her wedding for two years, hoping the pain would go. Instead, it got worse. When you think about that day, whats the word that springs to mind . Pain. Pain. It got to a point where i was attending hospitals and people were saying it was in my head,
that i was psychosomatic. I had discussed with my husband that i wanted to end my life. I couldnt live how i was living any longer, because nobody was listening, and i knew there was something not right. But in september 2018, rosanna watched our programme and saw a man called david ellis, speaking about his hernia mesh complications. His symptoms were similar to hers. I have so many times come close to ending it, because of the pain. After that, i started to investigate. And on the 10th of october, i got an e mail confirmation, from my Second Opinion surgeons secretary, confirming that i had the same as what david had. The show and david is why im here. And why im fighting. Rosanna is nowjobless, housebound and registered as disabled. My kids wrote a letter saying that they just want theirfun mum back, which. Sorry. Its hard. My husband wrote a support letter, stating he married a wife and became a carer. Im only 36 now. I was 33 when i had the mesh put in. I shouldnt be living the life im living. 100 people who have experienced complications took part in our data base. Chronic pain is a common complication, but 92 of them say their doctors never warned them it could be a side effect. 28 out of 100 have had suicidal thoughts, because of the complications. One of them was rosanna. When we asked how many times they have visited their gp or surgeon, many different phrases came up, but was often a overriding theme. But, despite the problems, only a quarter have been able to have their mesh removed, most have been told there are no trained removal surgeons, or that removing it could lead to further complications. The hernia mesh complication rate is much debated, but International Guidelines say it is between ten and 12 . That is one in ten patients who will experience significant chronic pain. Rosanna didnt know the complication rate. This was her reaction when we told her. That shocked me. Can you talk me through what youre thinking, what is going on in your mind . They know that one in ten people. Sorry. So they are playing the lottery with our lives. Its a risk they are willing to take. Thank you for your messages. Charlie says it is heartbreaking to have a boyfriend reduced to tears on a daily basis because of the chronic pain hes been in for two years, doctors dont care and he has to leave his trade as a mechanic
because he cant work any more. He is 29. This viewer says i have had several hernia repairs and always had pain in that area ever since then, but nobody seems to listen. I was told there will always be some discomfort, but not like this. This text says i had mesh in my pelvis for a hernia when i was 25 and it never caused me any issue. 0ne for a hernia when i was 25 and it never caused me any issue. One more for now, somebody that does not leave their name, my dad died after the mesh turned septic, and was breaking down in his stomach. He went in for breaking down in his stomach. He went inforan breaking down in his stomach. He went in for an operation to try to fix it, and he didnt come back. These are really shocking. Thank you for getting in touch this morning. Right here in he studio we have a group of people who have all either had hernia mesh fitted or have had a loved one whove experienced it. That includes barbara tait, whose husband was fitted with it and who believes it contributed to his death, jacqueline grimlsey who had mesh implanted after a hysterectomy, and harry nicola
who, after having it fitted, struggled to walk ever since. We also have colin elton a surgeon who uses mesh in some of the procedures he carries out. We will talk to colin, joining us from his hospital, at some point in the next 30 minutes or so. And david ellis who joins us from home, david had hernia mesh put in, in 2014 hes still living with crippling pain now. He was in annas film. Colin you are with us, despite your busy schedule, you are joining colin you are with us, despite your busy schedule, you arejoining us, despite your busy schedule as a surgeon. Also with us are labour mp sharon hodgson, eloise power a barrister who specialises in cases involving defective Medical Equipment and retired surgeon peterjones, who used to an alternative to mesh. Im going to start with you in the studio, if i may, first of all. I would like you to react to our
exclusive findings, there are more than 100 different types of mesh being used by the nhs in england and scotland, being sewn into patients with a hernia, with little or no medical evidence. How do you react . I think its disgusting. I have seen what it can do. I lost my husband, andi what it can do. I lost my husband, and i put it down to the mesh, the infection that he got. And before he had that one done, he did have another different kind of mesh, which has body rejected and they have to take that out. And then they did the last one, and from the minute he had his operation, he ended up with an infection, and that was 18 years ago. And it never went away. And then he passed two or three years ago, when his stomach broke down with this infection, and it led to other things. How do you react, jackie, to our findings . It led to other things. How do you react, jackie, to ourfindings . You didnt know before today that 100 different types are being used, and some have literally just
different types are being used, and some have literallyjust been tested on rabbits for five days. It is shocking, i read that before, in the la st shocking, i read that before, in the last year, because i have been doing some research. As somebody in your film said, there is more development and testing goes into a household appliance than those in medical devices. We assume when we go into have a medical device installed, that some rigorous testing has gone on. We assume the hippocratic oath, of do no harm, applies. If there is no testing and it isjust put into a rabbit for five days, you are putting it in to a human for ten, 20, 30 years putting it in to a human for ten, 20,30 years or longer, some very young people have hernia mesh put m, young people have hernia mesh put in, so it could be in there for several decad