Vaginal mesh

[Cassandra]

Had an operation in 2017 anterior/posterior prolapse and need to find out if consultant used mesh - being fobbed off by her secretary etc. Operation was done privately. Can I request that consultant puts it in writing that she didn’t use mesh for the operation? Also as it was done privately can I request from the hospital notes about the operation and would they tell me about use of mesh? If anyone from Northern Ireland sees this post and knows of any forum/organisation I can get in touch with please let me know.

Before I went into theatre consultant said although my operation was for prolapsed womb she got me to sign a form authorising her to sort anything else that needed doing which resulted in posterior prolapse being sorted as well. Do I have the right to a reply from her? Thank you all in advance.

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

🤔 I realise you had this done privately, but the same guidelines may apply.

I logged onto citizensadvice.org uk and clicked on the link to NHS Patients Rights.

In some cases, it is good practice to ask you, the patient, to sign a consent form, but in other cases consent can be obtained orally. For example, it is good practice to obtain written consent for any procedure or treatment carrying substantial risk or side effects. If you are capable, it is good practice to obtain written consent for general anaesthesia, surgery and certain forms of drug therapy. Oral or written consent should be recorded in your notes with relevant details of health professionals’ explanations.

Relevant details and explanations should be recorded, it seems reasonable to assume any use of ‘vaginal mesh’ should be recorded.

I’m adding the following, this was copied from a PRIVATE HOSPITAL, it could be useful.

Can I access my medical records?

Under the Information Commission Office (ICO) rules you have the right to get a copy of the information that is held about you. This is known as a subject access request.

This right of subject access means that you can make a request under the Data Protection Act to any organisation processing your personal data. The Act calls these organisations ‘data controllers’.

Data controllers include Ramsay Health Care at Springfield Hospital.

When requesting your personal information you should include the following:

A letter in writing addressed to the Medical Records Department with your full name, address and contact telephone number.

Any information used by us to identify or distinguish you from others of the same name (your patient number, your date of birth, your NHS number)

Details of the specific information you require and any relevant dates, for example your medical records (between 2006 and 2009) held by Ramsay Health Care at Springfield Hospital

Please note doctors working privately at Springfield could also be registered as data controllers and therefore may hold their own records. You will need to write to them separately if you wish to request their records about you as well. Please submit a letter in writing addressed to the doctor courtesy of Springfield Hospital and including the same information as detailed above.

[Cassandra in reply to wobblybee]

Thank you so much for your very detailed reply which has helped a lot.

[Cariad123]

Hi you will find Sling the Mesh extremely helpful (there is a Northern Ireland section l think Jackie Harvey would be the person who might help you with advice

The site has a wealth of information in the files section .