Family of mum who died after mesh implant fight for ban

A grieving son whose mother's death has been linked to a mesh implant has vowed to fight to have the products completely banned.

Mark and Chic Baxter. Picture: Ian Georgeson.

The Scotsman revealed yesterday how Eileen Baxter, who died in August after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, from multiple organ failure had sacrocolopexy mesh repair – an implant to fix a pelvic organ prolapse – noted as an underlying cause.

The Scottish Government have announced they will now consider whether a review or inquiry should be held in the wake of the 75-year-old’s death.

Eileen Baxter died in August.

Last night her son Mark, 52, said he was acting as his “mum’s voice” in the fight to end the use of mesh implants.

He added: “All those years where she complained to the doctors and hospitals, saying – ‘this is all to do with this bloody mesh’, we finally feel that people are listening but it’s hurting us. It’s a case of look what’s had to happen for something to be done – I wished they just listened to my mum in the first instance and had a look there and then to see what was going on. They shouldn’t have waited until her bowel burst before looking into the mesh implant.

“If my mum was standing here today she would be as proud as punch that we’re 100 per cent up for the fight.

“My mum’s not here now but you’ve no idea how much we miss her. I wake up in the middle of the night, smoking my pipe and thinking about how much I miss her. Words cannot explain it – she was a best pal to everyone.”

Mrs Baxter, from Loanhead in Midlothian, leaves her husband Chic, two children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Scottish Labour said it is believed to be the first time a mesh implant has been officially listed as a cause of death in Scotland.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: “The news that a repair to a mesh implant carried out by NHS Scotland was a contributing factor in the death of Eileen Baxter will deeply distress not only her family but the many hundreds of women in Scotland who underwent this procedure.

“In light of Mrs Baxter’s death, it is crucial the cabinet secretary for health investigates this specific case fully to ensure no further harm is done to women in any part of the country.”