The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with other health sector agencies, is continuing to progress work on the actions agreed in the report Hearing and Responding to the Stories of Survivors of Surgical Mesh published in December 2019.
A full list of action against the recommendations section can be found in the downloads section of this page.
Progress since the previous update
Recommendation 8
Specialist multi-disciplinary centre(s) are required – a group will meet in January 2020 to advise the number of specialist centres required to ensure equity of access, the model of care, and team required.
Status: In progress
Work to establish the specialist services for surgical mesh complications has now transferred to Te Whatu Ora. A phased approach is being taken with a focus on the ‘front end’ of the service, namely care pathways, multi-disciplinary meetings, and navigation and coordination roles, being established.
Programme resources are currently being established, and a briefing of the service and proposed programme is being provided to Te Whatu Ora Executive Leadership Team for consideration and approval.
Recommendation 9
Establish a credentialing committee by the end of January 2020 to recommend national standards for individual practitioners and services commencing with urogynaecology procedures – minimum standards for insertion, renewal, repair, and removal of surgery and native tissue repair will be included.
Status: In progress
The first round of credentialling will occur at the end of November 2022, and outcomes being made available early 2023. The first round will focus on those working at Tier 3, carrying mesh removal and revision procedures. The assessing panel will consist of two internationally recognised surgical experts, two consumers, and an independent chair.
A review will be undertaken following the first round with a continuous improvement approach in mind, with the learnings to be applied to subsequent rounds in 2023.
Recommendation 10
The Ministry of Health will lead, supported by ACC, interdisciplinary education and build the capability of the required technical skills to prevent future harm and reduce the severity of existing harm. This action intends to also support the provision of removal surgery.
Status: In progress
In the primary care education workstream, 2 of the 3 planned webinars have now been delivered.
The first webinar held on 24 August 2022 focussed on identifying surgical mesh harm and optimising management, while the second was held on 4 October 2022 and focussed on the management of urinary incontinence. The third webinar is scheduled for 15 November 2022, and will focus on management of pelvic organ prolapse.
The webinars are available for viewing via the Goodfellow Unit.
Work will commence soon with the HQSC to develop a resource for consumers to use when attending their appointments with primary health care professionals.
Manatū Hauora are currently considering options to progress the secondary and tertiary package development.