Financial, Practical and Emotional Support for Mesh Patients

The starting point (that you may already have tried) is to talk to your GP and get a referral back to a surgeon to consider removal of mesh. Not all GPs will know where to send you and support groups like ‘TVT Mum’ below, have a wealth of information to wade through on their website that may assist. Otherwise, contact a specialist clinical negligence firm, such as Medical Solicitors, so we can point you in the right direction.

This page is divided into 4 sections:

1. Financial and Housing advice and support
2. UK Support Groups
3. More emotional support
4. Support Groups around the world

1. FOR FINANCIAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT:

The Money Advice Service

For advice on benefits entitlement and financial matters, we recommend you seek further information via your local authority website for local support services or at The Money Advice Service:

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits/problems-with-benefits/where-to-get-help-and-advice-about-benefits

Age UK benefits advice for older people

Age UK is for those over State Pension age and living in the area covered by the local branch. Some local branches of Age UK offer a free, confidential benefits advice service. Practical assistance to make sure you’re getting all the benefits to which you are entitled. They can provide advice by telephone, face-to-face and home visits and help with completing forms.

Telephone the Age UK Helpline: 0800 169 6565 (8am-7pm, 365 days a year)

Website:  Age UK website

Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline

Gingerbread provides advice and practical support for single parents, including advice on benefits and tax credits.

You can call free on 0808 802 0925 (Monday: 10am to 6pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10am to 4pm, Wednesday: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm)

Debt advice

If you’re worried about keeping up with debt repayments there is lots of free, confidential help and advice available. Find out more by following the link below:

Where to go to get free debt advice

Housing advice

If you have rent or mortgage arrears or you’re worried about losing your home, Shelter offers confidential advice on a range of housing issues.

• Visit the Shelter England website
• Visit the Shelter Scotland website
• Visit the Shelter Cymru website
• Visit the Shelter Northern Ireland website

2. UK Support Groups

Sling the Mesh 

Cambridgeshire journalist Kath Sansom, set up ‘Sling the Mesh’ in June 2015 after suffering because of a TVT procedure that she had in March 2015.

There are nearly 6000 members now (May 2018). Sling the Mesh is calling for better patient information, a National Register to track mesh problems and ultimately the TVT, TVTO and POP operation to be suspended in England Wales and N. Ireland to tie in with Scotland where it was suspended in June 2014.

This Group is designed to warn women of the risks of mesh used in the TVT and TVTO sling mesh operation for bladder problems /incontinence usually suffered after childbirth. This group is for people injured by mesh used in pelvic organ prolapse POP and hernia operations in men and women, as well as mesh used in rectopexy.

Join Sling the Mesh for support and respectful discussion

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/784263765025642/?fref=ts   

On Twitter @MeshCampaign

Mesh problems

This is a webpage via Facebook to share experiences. It is not a support group, as such. It is purely an opportunity to share experiences and any useful information that you may have. Join this Group and add your voice. Above all, please do not underestimate your own experience. Share with other sufferers… https://www.facebook.com/groups/meshproblems/

Scottish Mesh Survivors 

Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy fellow mesh sufferers came together and set up this important support group in Scotland. They brought together 100s of fellow sufferers in Scotland and as a result of their amazing efforts campaigning and raising awareness use of mesh in Scotland was suspended.

http://www.scottishmeshsurvivors.com/

3. MORE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT:

British Association for Counselling

Telephone number 0870 443 5252.

Website:/ www.bacp.co.uk

Dedicated to the promotion of counselling and maintenance of standards and training and practice, providing information on training and lists of local counsellors on receipt of an S.A.E.

The Samaritans

HELPLINE:

• 116 123 (UK)
• 116 123 (ROI)

They are there round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  This number is FREE to call. You don’t have to be suicidal to call them

OR EMAIL: jo@samaritans.org

Website: https://www.samaritans.org/

4. SUPPORT GROUPS WORLDWIDE (spot the ones that are not!)

Mesh Down Under (Austrailia)

https://www.facebook.com/MeshDownUnder/

Twitter: @MeshDownUnder

Canada Hernia Support Group

https://www.facebook.com/Canada-Hernia-Support-Group-175317695847193/

(USA) Mesh and Bladder Sling Injury Support Group

This is NOT a Support Group! This is a USA firm of lawyers. At Medical Solicitors we should be complete transparency in a situation where there has been so much secrecy and non-disclosure to the detriment of so many. So, if you are in the USA, use the following link if you want representation not necessarily emotional, practical and financial support!

However, if you go through the historical posts you may be able to connect with a fellow sufferer for emotional/ moral support.

Contact our Transvaginal Mesh Compensation Claims Solicitors

We provide urgent legal advice and support for patients anywhere in England & Wales. We have doctors and barristers located all over the UK, who provide us with meeting facilities, in London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Yorkshire, Oxford, Manchester, Leeds, Hull, Liverpool, Newcastle and beyond. Our team will travel to see clients. We think it best to see our clients in the comfort of their own home over a cup of tea. You are not a number to us. Call or email our friendly team free of charge for specialist legal advice on a no win no fee basis today.