Health
National award for Cambridgeshire women’s health campaigner
A Cambridgeshire mum of two is celebrating after winning an international She Inspires award for her women’s health campaign.
Kath Sansom, who founded Sling The Mesh in 2015, won the National Agent of Change category in a prestigious international ceremony celebrating women who have made a difference. Latest News – She Inspires Group
MP Steve Barclay, Health Secretary, took to Twitter to congratulate Kath for her years of hard work.
Sling the Mesh is a campaign raising awareness of the potential risks associated with vaginal and rectal mesh surgery. The campaign was launched in 2015 by journalist Kath Sansom
That work has resulted in a string of successes for patient safety including the suspension of one type of mesh implant, the First Do No Harm report commissioned by the Government which calls for sweeping change, and a clause in the new Health and Social Care Act to uncover payments made to doctors from industry.
Congratulations to Kath Sansom who has been named the Agent of Change National winner at the She Inspires Awards 2022 for all the work done to highlight the issues with vaginal mesh @SheInsprAwrds #sheinspires
— Steve Barclay (@SteveBarclay) November 25, 2022
Another success for Kath is that NHS specialist pelvic floor physiotherapy is being improved across England from March 2024, for women following childbirth and throughout their lifetime.
Sling the Mesh is a campaign raising awareness of the potential risks associated with vaginal and rectal mesh surgery. The campaign was launched in 2015 by journalist Kath Sansom. Here with other SheInspires award winners
Kath, 54, of March said: “It has been wonderful to be recognised for all the hours of hard work and tears that goes into running the campaign.
“All done voluntarily in my spare time. Surgical mesh is one of the biggest health scandals of our generation.
“The campaign continues for improved regulations, better data, fully informed patient consent and early warning triggers of harm, so that no patient suffers in such a widescale tragedy like mesh, ever again.
Sling the Mesh is a campaign raising awareness of the potential risks associated with vaginal and rectal mesh surgery. The campaign was launched in 2015 by journalist Kath Sansom. Pictured one of the campaign photos that helped raise awareness
“A huge thanks needs to go to all the people who have supported over the years from politicians, to doctors, the support group admin team and many others who have trawled research, dug into scientific evidence, attended meetings and added their voice to important advocacy work.”
Sling The Mesh was set up with just 20 women in 2015 and now has almost 10,000 members from around the world on its Facebook page – including men who are suffering from hernia mesh complications.
Sling the Mesh is a campaign raising awareness of the potential risks associated with vaginal and rectal mesh surgery. The campaign was launched in 2015 by journalist Kath Sansom. Pictured here with her award
Surgical mesh is made from polypropylene plastic and is used to support weak tissue in operations to fix prolapse, incontinence, hernia and also in some breast reconstruction surgeries following mastectomy.
The SheInspires Awards are founded and organised by Gulnaz Brennan and are into their eighth year. The Awards recognise exceptional women who have made a difference through their leadership, achievements, and contribution to society.
For 2022, they highlighted local, national, and international women from around the world from India to America to Ukraine.
Sling the Mesh is a campaign raising awareness of the potential risks associated with vaginal and rectal mesh surgery. The campaign was launched in 2015 by journalist Kath Sansom
TV coverage has been fundamental to raising awareness
The campaign was launched in 2015 by journalist Kath Sansom following reports that hundreds of people in the UK had been left in pain by mesh implants that were used to treat prolapse and incontinence, usually after childbirth.
