THE announcement that the Government will suspend the use of vaginal mesh during operations until further notice is only a partial victory, a Clacton campaigner has claimed.

Baroness Julia Cumberlege, who chaired a major review, has put forward conditions to be met by March 2019 before mesh – used to treat stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse – can be considered safe again.

The Department of Health and NHS England have accepted the recommendations.

June Faircloth, of Clacton, who launched Sling the Mesh in Essex, met Baroness Cumberlege with other members to share her harrowing experiences due to mesh complications.

June said: “She sat there mortified. I think she was in total shock.

“We put a list together of what we’d like to see happen and the support needed now and for the future.

“There’s still work to be done. Since the suspension went through, it’s been said the NHS will still use it on an emergency basis, which is still risky.

“Plus, this is only one of three meshes – rectal and hernia mesh haven’t been banned. Lots of men are suffering too.

“In my case, the mesh has compressed against itself and is damaging my internal organs.”

Both June, 49, and her husband have suffered surgical mesh complications which the mum-of-two needed after the birth of her 10lb 6oz daughter, now 29.

She had two types of mesh implanted in the mid 2000s to anchor her womb due to incontinence, which then needed repairing about six years later in 2013.

Chronic pain plus incontinence meant she was unable to hold things together at work, but some of her symptoms were blamed on the menopause.

She went from being an active person to needing crutches and sometimes a mobility scooter having had three back operations while the real cause went undetected.

She said: “It’s been horrendous and has got to the point where it’s really got me down. I’m also angry because everyone thinks it’s in your head.

“I’m at the stage now where just trying to walk to town, which used to take 10 minutes, now takes 45, and the pain means I can’t do anymore.

“My life is on hold.”

It was not until seeing the national Sling The Mesh group on the TV that June realised the mesh was to blame for her physical difficulties.

Fortunately, she was able to get diagnosed by a private specialist and is now but is back on the NHS awaiting further NHS treatment.

Search Sling the Mesh in Essex on Facebook for more information.