Pelvic mesh injury

About pelvic mesh injury

Pelvic surgical mesh is a medical device used to support weakened tissue, most commonly to treat pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence.
For many people, pelvic mesh works well and does not cause harm. However, some people experience problems after surgery. These can include:

• long lasting pain
• repeated bladder infections
• pain during sex.

When these problems result from treatment, they may be considered a pelvic mesh injury.

Getting help with your pelvic mesh injury

If you think your symptoms may be linked to pelvic mesh, talk to your GP or specialist. They can help you lodge a claim with us if your injury may be covered as a treatment injury.

Once a claim is lodged, we’ll review it. To help us make a decision, we may get information from:

• health providers who have treated you
• the New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service.

If your claim is approved

If your claim is approved, a recovery team member will support you. They will help organise the care and support you need. This may include help with:

• tests, scans and medical assessments
• treatment and rehabilitation recommended by your specialist or the Female Pelvic Mesh Service
• weekly compensation
• travel and accommodation
• home and community support
• aids and equipment
• Rongoā Māori services.

We can also fund Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora to provide assessments through the New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service to help plan your treatment.

The Female Pelvic Mesh Service

If your claim is declined, you may still be able to get support through the New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service. This service is run by Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora for women affected by pelvic surgical mesh injuries.

Have your surgical mesh claim reassessed

If your surgical mesh claim was declined in the past, reassessment may be possible in some cases. 

You can ask for a reassessment if:

• your claim for a surgical mesh injury was declined before 28 October 2020, and
• you believe it was not assessed using current medical evidence.

Reassessments use the latest understanding of mesh injuries. The decision may stay the same or change after reassessment.

How the reassessment process works

When you contact us, we’ll take your details and explain what happens next. A specialist cover assessor will support you through the process.
We may need more medical information. In some cases, further medical assessment is required. If this happens, we will:

• talk you through how the assessment will work
• help arrange the assessment
• pay for the assessment
• support you throughout the process.

We’ll ask for your consent before starting a reassessment.