Says it should be banned. It is a device of torture. In the 21st century, if they were using torture, to Extra Ct 21st century, if they were using torture, to extract things, then they could use this. Watch the full story in just over ten minutes time, and werejoined by a group of women who say the implant has ruined their lives. Also on the programme, smashing the stigma on Mental Health, just how much good are william and harry doing by talking so frankly about Mental Health issues. And, north korea says its prepared to engage in all out war if the United States takes Military Action. Well look at what the secretive countrys next move could be. Hello. Welcome to the programme, were live until 11. Throughout the morning, the latest Breaking News and developing stories. And as always your own experiences are key to our conversations. If youve had a vaginal mesh implant get in touch and tell us your experience, has it worked for you . It has for millions of women, use the Hashtag Victoria Live and of you text, you will be charged at the Standard Network rate. The duke of cambridge has echoed his younger brother in urging people to talk about their Mental Health issues saying the british Stiff Upper Lip should not come at the expense of peoples health. In a video, Prince William talks to the Music Star Lady Gaga as part of his Mental Health campaign. It comes after prince harry said he sought counselling to come to terms with the death of their mother. In the video they discuss lady gagas own battle with Mental Health, and urge people to speak up about how theyre feeling. It is interesting to see and hear from you how much having that conversation and that ability to speak to someone really made a difference, for me, the little bits i have learned so far about Mental Health, very much a case of, it is 0k to have the conversation, really important to have the conversation, you wont bejudged. Important to have the conversation, you wont be judged. So important to have the conversation, you wont bejudged. So important to break open that fear and that to boot, it will only lead to more problems down the line. And that taboo. We can talk to peter hunt our royal correspondent about this now. Not n ot ofte n not often that you would see a video that begins, hello, Prince William, hello, lady gaga, look at her social media presence, 69 million followers on twitter, 23. 8 million followers on twitter, 23. 8 million followers on instagram, a person with a very personal story about how she has dealt with ptsd after she was raked at the age of 19, they want a bigger group of people with profile to continue this campaign. It is reflective of a generational change, a generational change in society and a generational change in society and a generational change within the royalfamily, he a generational change within the royal family, he mentions a generational change within the royalfamily, he mentions the british Stiff Upper Lip. The institution of the royal family used to symbolise that. Now, he Prince William, future king, is saying it may have its place but should not be at the extent of Mental Health and talks in an interview with a magazine called calm, which aims to tackle mens suicide, the biggest killer of men aged 45 and under in the uk, hoping that people can talk openly as they grow up. The us Vice President mike pence, has arrived in tokyo from south korea for talks and has reaffirmed washingtons commitment to reining in north Koreas Nuclear ambitions. It follows a warning from a Senior North Korean official, in an interview with the bbcs john sudworth, that his country would carry out a pre Emptive Nuclear strike if it saw signs that the us was preparing an attack. Our correspondent in tokyo, Rupert Wingfield hayes, sent this update. Essentially, there is brinkmanship going on from both sides. We have seen first President Trump and now Vice President pence saying to the north koreans, dont push us, dont test us. We are prepared to use Military Action if necessary. Then we have seen in this interview withjohn yesterday, from the vice Foreign Minister in pyongyang, them saying, well, look, if you infringe on our territory, on our sovereignty, we will retaliate with nuclear weapons. It all sounds very alarming, but actually, what is going on here is diplomacy by other means, if you like, and i think what the American Government is trying to do is to send a message to north korea, and also, crucially, to china, saying that the American Government is not prepared to continue with the status quo, and making a realistic threat of military force, if you like, but the purpose of that is to get china to tighten its sanctions against the north korean regime. And there are some signs that that might be starting to take effect. China has now said it might impose Oil Sanctions against north korea. Its never done that before. So, perhaps this alarmist language is starting to have some effect. An investigation by this programme has found that more than 800 uk women are taking legal action against the nhs and the makers of vaginal Mesh Implants. The implants are used to treat pelvic Organ Prolapse and incontinence after childbirth, but some can cut into the vagina, causing severe discomfort. Some women have been left in permanent pain, unable to walk, work or have sex. One called the implants barbaric. Well have much more on this in just a few moments. Ministers are to set out new proposals to speed up appeals by foreign criminals and failed Asylum Seekers held in detention. A previous Fast Track Scheme was scrapped 2 years ago after the Court Of Appeal ruled it unlawful. Officials say that, if implemented, the system could speed up around 2,000 cases a year. President trump has called the turkish leader, recep tayyip erdogan, to congratulate him on his victory in sundays referendum on constitutional changes. The white house said mr trump also thanked president erdogan for supporting the us Missile Strike on a Syrian Government air base this month. The turkish government has announced its extending the countrys state of emergency, introduced after an attempted coup last july. Facebook has launched a review of how it deals with violent content, after a video apparently showing the killing of a pensioner in ohio remained on the network for more than 2 hours. Police are still looking for steve stephens, who posted a video of the attack on 74 year old robert godwin, who was picked apparently at random. Officers say the suspect is armed and dangerous. The Supreme Court in The American State Of Arkansas has halted two executions which were due to have been the first of seven to be carried out before the end of the month. Lawyers for the two convicted murderers had raised questions about their mental competence. The arkansas government said it would seek an immediate review. Its supply of one of the drugs used in the lethal injections will expire at the end of april. More at 9 30am. This e mail, thank you for highlighting the pain that this operation has caused many women, personally i was a nurse before i went in for this operation and was not aware of the problems at the time, iam not aware of the problems at the time, i am now disabled not aware of the problems at the time, iam now disabled by not aware of the problems at the time, i am now disabled by pain and ino time, i am now disabled by pain and i no longer work, i use sticks and ifigo i no longer work, i use sticks and if i go out our use an electric wheelchair, the nhs has a duty not to put more women through this, if it isa to put more women through this, if it is a worldwide scandal, i hope that this raises awareness. It is like the women cannot win, suffering with and without the mesh stop what i lost theirjobs because the implant hurt so much i could not move my left arm, once i caught the Incision Site with perfume and the gp kept prodding it and hurting me. This e mail, i was diagnosed with complications from a vaginal tape insertion operation. The tape is eroding through into myjoiner. The piece is hugely relevant, as you can see. Bear in mind, this is a procedure that has worked for millions of women Around The World. Let us know as well. If you get in touch use the hashtag. If few sore heads in bright in this morning. What a day for those bright and fans, bright and players, eve ryo ne and fans, bright and players, everyone at the club, back in the top flight for the english leagues, after 3a years, they beat wigan, 21, with after 3a years, they beat wigan, 2 1, with huddersfield failing to win, that confirmed they will be in the Premier League, Glenn Murrays goal, 2 i, it finished, 20 years to the day almost since they were less than 13 minutes of dropping out of the Football League completely, they sold the goldstone ground, to Property Developers to pay off debts, the fans had to travel 70 miles to go to watch games in chillingham. This is them, that man, double parked, outrageous moved to the with dean, professional poker player tony bloom came in, top manager in chris hughton, selling out a 30,000 seater stadium, the amex stadium, amazing journey, brighten into the Premier League. Macro brighton into the Premier League. Withdean. Arsenal have won a game, winning 2 i withdean. Arsenal have won a game, winning 2 1 over middlesbrough, mesut 0zil secured the much needed 3. 4 arsenal, with a strike at the near post, Alexis S Nchez got man of the match, he helped arsenal take the lead with his excellent free kick, Lvaro Negredo got the equaliser, mesut 0zil getting the win. Arsene wenger will be pleased to see his Star Man Smiling but will it be enough to keep the man at the club, trying to signa keep the man at the club, trying to sign a new contract, big win for the arsenal in terms of the top four. First this morning, its a scandal which could cost the nhs millions of pounds in compensation. This programme has learnt that more than 800 women in the uk are taking legal action against the nhs and manufacturers over what they describe asbarbaric vaginal Mesh Implants. The implants, which are used to treat pelvic Organ Prolapse and Bladder Incontinence after childbirth, can erode and cut into the vagina causing severe pain and discomfort and leaving some women registered disabled. For the majority of women they work but others have been left in permanent pain, unable to walk unaided, work or have sex. In our exclusive report well hear calls for them to banned on the nhs. With us this morning, a dozen of those women who are taking legal action, and you would support that call for them to be banned . The uk Regulatory Body Mhra said it sympathises with the women affected but that it believes the benefits outweigh the risks. Ive been to meet some of the women affected, and just to let you know the report includes graphic description from the beginning which you may not want children to watch it is a device of torture. In the 2ist century, if they were using torture to extract things, they could use mesh. My husband has turned into my carer, and hes so much less of my husband. We cant have sex. We havent had sex for four and a half years. I am registered disabled. I have no control over my bowel or my bladder, so im just terrified. He examined me and he could actually see the tape was coming through my vagina, so it was actually all the way through and protruding through. So, this is a vaginal mesh. Its used when women have a prolapse or Bladder Incontinence, normally brought on by childbirth, and its often made from polypropylene, thats the same material used to make this kind of drinks bottle. Tens of thousands of women in the uk have had one, but this programme has learnt that more than 800 of them are now taking legal action against the nhs and the manufacturers because this innocuous looking piece of match can erode, disintegrate and lead to life changing pain and distress. This simple procedure could end up costing the Health Service Tens Of Millions of pounds in compensation, but some want to see it banned on the nhs completely. It has completely changed my life. I am registered disabled and doubly incontinent, and i have no control over my bowel or my bladder, so im just terrified that i go out. Ive had accidents. Its not pretty. Ill not leave the house until i know my bowel is empty. Karen, let me ask you about the impact on you of having this mesh. Ive got extensive nerve damage in my left leg and my foot, my hip. I am double incontinent, so thats bowel and bladder. Ive got depression, severe, that ive had to go and see an emergency counsellor. And ive got fibromyalgia. Im seeing a physiotherapist to keep my joints moving because they are seizing up because the pain isjust so severe some days that it easierjust to stay in bed, but thats not conducive with yourself healthy. It never ends. You know, i never foresaw that having a 40 minute procedure twice would be this devastating. Ijust didnt. s Vaginal Meshes are designed to be permanent. They are used to treat either prolapse or Bladder Incontinence. The mesh effectively acts like a sling or hammock, holding up the internal pelvic organs in the case of a prolapse, or supporting the urethra, or bladder neck, in the case of Bladder Incontinence. Whilst they work for the majority of women, when they go wrong, they can be difficult to remove. Doctor mark slack is a surgeon who fits some type of Mesh Implants. This is a model of a female pelvis. These are a Model Representation of the organs of the bladder, uterus, and the bowel at the back. This is much smaller than an actual pelvis. This is less than a quarter of the size of a normal adult human pelvis. And this is to scale . Its made long enough to be able to go from the vagina, up through the abdominal wall, and goes in behind the pelvis, on either side of the bladder neck, into a space where there are no major organs. It comes out through the skin, and taken right out, and the tape is cut off, leaving the tape forming a hammock underneath the neck of the bladder. My reality was absolutely fantastic for the first three years. And then i began to have what felt like period pains, but very intense period pains that would go on for days and weeks. I was referred back to my gynaecologist, who said, it must be your womb. I had a full abdominal hysterectomy to try and rectify my pain. And, of course, i still had it there after that. So, i lost my womb for no reason, and i was 39. So, what did you think it was then . I went to see my gp after i had my hysterectomy, and i said that i was still in pain, and he looked at me square in the face and said, claire, we have had you out on an operating table. There is nothing there to see. You are depressed. Wow. How did that make you feel . I got back in my car and i phoned my husband, and i said, i cant. I cant live any more. I cant go through this. I actually do think its. Im believing the doctors. I think its in the head, yeah. I didnt know where else to turn. Did you have any suicidal thoughts . You did . Gosh. I planned it. I mapped it out. And having children. Something, i think, just kicked in. Im very lucky that something kicked in. Ive had over 53 admissions. Over the last five years, i counted, actually. Because you are in pain . Because of agonising pain. I can feel like something really sharp, every time i walk. It feels like something sharps inside me. And i couldnt understand what it was, so i went back. I had an appointment coming up to see a surgeon, anyway. He examined me, and he could actually see the tape was coming through my vagina, so it was all the way through and protruding. When you say tape, we are talking about the mesh . Yes, so a piece of that had worked its way which was this Erosion Thing it worked its way through and come out The Other Side. What was the reality . My husband has turned into my carer, and hes so much less of my husband. We cant have sex. We havent had sex for forum and years. For four and a half years. We can attempt it at times. He is a 45 year old man. This stuff breaks up marriages. Why wouldnt it . Its cause for divorce, not having sexual relations with your partner. Imagine a hedgehog covered in chilli sauce. Thats as bad as it is. So, when people say, why cant you have sex after a mesh implant . The burning is so intense, thats how it feels. To the point where i couldnt even use a tampon during my period, because the burning, that would exacerbate the burning, but also, that would then send Shooting Pains down my legs. Interestingly, once i had had the mesh removed, within three days of removal, all that burning has gone. Its like being mutilated. It is. Its barbaric. Thats the only way to describe it, really. It slices through the wall, so when women are having sex, sometimes their partners are being injured during sex, because its cutting through the wall. Its that severe. Weve learned that one of the leading manufacturers of mesh, ethicon, a Subsidiary Ofjohnson johnson, knew about problems over ten years ago. I want to read you this. This is an e mail from 2004. This is not going to go away any time soon, and the competition will have a field day. Major Damage Control offensive needs to start to educate the reps and the surgeons. 2004, they realised, according to this e mail, that theres a problem. What do you think of that . Horrendous. Its outrageous. That they are harming women and they know about it, and they dont care. How can they do this to women . In this day and age. Five years ago, in the United States, Senior Executives at ethicon, Thejohnson Johnson subsidiary, were cross examined as part of a civil lawsuit against the manufacturer, and it became clear they knew that once implanted in women, mesh could contract and disintegrate. Product requirement five was that the mesh must not shrink, but on the other hand, you knew that shrinkage was going to happen and the mesh would shrink, correct . Yes. Are you aware that the erosion rate at one year in the tvm study, if you counted all the exposures of the mesh into the vagina that occurred, as of one year, it was 20. 7 of the women . Yes. Im aware of that. And its your testimony to this jury that thats acceptable to you, that the top surgeons in the world, the very best, had eight 20. 7 erosion rate at one year . Yes or no, thats acceptable to you . Yes. Its just. Arrogance. Hesjust dismissing the fact. 20 , 25 , doesnt really matter. If i met them, i would ask him, would he put it in his wife, his mother, his sister, his niece . When he knows the shrinkage. And he has totally dismissed it. Honest to god, i dont think i could say anything polite. Im just so angry that people like him just dismiss it as a number. And im notjust a number. Im somebodys partner, somebodys mum, somebodys sister, and all these people are impacted on it. You knew it would lead to erosion, correct . Yes. You knew it could lead to dyspareunia, correct . Yes. Hes just ticking a check list. You knew that it could lead to the need to have subsequent invasive operations to try to either remove or revise that contracted mesh, correct . Yes. Hes sitting with his finger on his head, going yes, yes, yes, and im hoping that hes going to say no, and he doesnt, and hesjust downplaying what we. What weve been through. They knew it. 2012 was two years from my first implantation, so when he was saying all this, i was at a surgeon, begging for him to remove it. Ethicon, Subsidiary Ofjohnson and johnson, manufacturer of Vaginal Meshes, also tell us that they are no longer marketing these meshes for prolapses. Doctors are still performing them, day in, day out. I would like to implant it in one of them, let them feel this pain. Nobody should have to suffer this. This doctor is a surgeon many women turn to to try and remove the mesh. I tend to see patients who have suffered complications, long term complications, as a result of these materials, and you will be aware that many of them have had either prolapse or incontinence mesh put in to help with their symptoms, originally, and then some of them have developed problems very soon afterwards, but a lot of them have developed problems several years down the line. Like what . So, the typical type of patient i see is a patient who is incapacitated by severe pain, of a chronic nature, often they are on high medication, including opiates. They become so incapacitated that many of them are either walking with crutches or sitting in wheelchairs, and perhaps more dramatically, they become unable to look after their families. Many will give up work, and some of them will lose their partners. Because relationships. Relationships break down, yes. It becomes extremely difficult to manage their life as a whole. Vaginal meshes are still being used by surgeons up and down the country, and there are Something Like 100 different types on the market. To get them approved for clinical use, its really easy. In europe and america, it does need to be approved, but it doesnt need any evidence when it gets approved, because it can use other devices, what is called equivalence, to say, my device is the same as yours, so i would like approval, please. And what happens is, the regulatory body says, no problem, you can have approval. Do you believe the nhs should stop using these meshes . I do believe they should stop using these meshes, and if people want to come back and say, im going to innovate, develop, then they have to do that in the context of research. As opposed to using human beings over a 15 year life cycle now. This has been going on since 2000, and using them as experiments, when actually, you should be saying honestly, we are able to tell you, here is a device, here is the benefit, here is a long term harm. If you cant say that, you shouldnt make it available. So far, not one single model of mesh has been recalled in this country. Many of the women we have spoken to say they were never told by their surgeons about the potential risks associated with Vaginal Meshes. Do you tell women about the potential medium to long term problems that the mesh can erode into the vagina, that the mesh can disintegrate . That the mesh can make having sex so painful that, actually, that woman can never have sex again . We have a patient information leaflet. Its got all the complications. We divide them into common, very common, uncommon. We give examples of what common means in terms of numbers. Right, but do you have those conversations . Yes, we do. Weve got an information leaflet. No, but do you have conversations . Yes. Right. For many women, this is a really good procedure. For some women, its a pretty horrific procedure. It has a massive impact on their life in a very detrimental way. I have enormous sympathy for the patients who really have severe pain. Is it worth it, then . Not for that group. Is it worth it for all the patients . Its difficult to say. Would you carry out a mesh Implant Procedure on your wife . For incontinence, yes. Even though it goes wrong for some women . Yes, because. It would be very much my wifes decision about whether or not she would undergo such an implant. What about for prolapse . You would let your wife have one of those for a prolapse . Yes. The uk regulatory body, the mhra, says most women, the use of vaginal mesh implant is safe and effective. A recent review in scotland said mesh implant is said Mesh Implants shouldnt be routinely used for pelvic Organ Prolapse, but critics called it a whitewash. A separate review is under way in england and wales. In the states, thousands of women have sued manufacturers, receiving pay outs that totalled 2 billion. In the uk, weve obtained nhs data which suggest around 100,000 women have had the implants, and almost 9 of those women reported problems. But the true figure could be even higher, so why are they still being used . I want the procedure banned, i want the material banned. I want surgeons to give the full information. Just stop making it. Stop making it. Please, it is a device of torture, and as anne marie said, in the 21st century, if they were using torture to extract things, then you could use mesh. It is that. But please, just stop. If pain takes you to a place where you feel, to me, that suicide and leaving people behind you is less painful than them enduring watching you being in pain, then please, just stop. Just dont let anybody else have to live this. While our guests in the studio were watching that, some of the women, some affected by the implants, were in tears. Why was it so upsetting for view to watch that . It is upsetting because womens lives have changed so dramatically but worse than that they are not listen to and when they go back to the surgeons, the majority are told, that has nothing to do with your implant. Some go for years back to Co Nsulta Nts some go for years back to consultants and gps to find a solution to the pain which adds to the distress. You 42 and have this a couple of years ago. When did the problems start . For me it was straight after surgery and i was told it was bruising and you believe that, it was part of the bigger operation for a Prolapse Repair and i trusted the surgeon and it was said it was because i had been in stirrups for hours. I went back weeks later and was still suffering from pain and it was like tight elastic bands down my legs and he said it was bruising. I went back about six months later, he thought to tell me again it was still bruising. 0ne to tell me again it was still bruising. One year later i had an episode when i could not walk for three days and had a Shooting Pain in my groin. My husband took me to see him and he told me it was bruising and i told him i did not believe him any more. I had what felt like a block of ice attached to my buttocks. I was in constant pain. It was almost like torture. The Elastic Band Feeling turned to almost like an acid, fire in my nerves. That got stronger over the two years, to the point now i am on as many painkillers as i am allowed to take and have steroids and i am ona to take and have steroids and i am on a waiting list to have barbaric torture item removed. You have brought your daughters here with you, you do a lot of looking after your mother because it is difficult for her to get around and do the normal things she used to do. It goes from ironing, to the washing, i make my Little Brothers dinner, taken to bed, do barks, i walk in and i checked her drug status and that is it for the rest of the night, she is a zombie. Do baths. You are a young woman, 42 yea rs baths. You are a young woman, 42 years old. It is like i have aged 40 years old. It is like i have aged 40 years in the last two years. My four year old does not even remember the Phone Version of me, we used to go out shopping and bowling and have fun, Iused Go Out Shopping and bowling and have fun, i used to be able to have sex and that has gone out the window. I feel like an 80 year old woman in a 42 year olds body, it is really infuriating, watching the vat, to find that they knew about it, i had the operation two years ago and they we re aware the operation two years ago and they were aware of the risks. Vt. When i asked my surgeon if he was using mesh i was told that he was not. The leaflet that i was given said it was a tape or sling, nowhere was it written that it was mesh and i only found out a year after surgery and i was disgusted. Rachel from email says, i had this procedure, i had been suffering from incontinence for yea rs, been suffering from incontinence for years, iam been suffering from incontinence for years, i am now dry and been suffering from incontinence for years, iam now dry and i have my life back, easy recovery, all has been well, i wish i had it years ago. It is worth remembering that for millions of women, no consolation to those sitting here, but for millions of women, it is a procedure that has transformed their lives positively. We asked johnson and johnson, the nhs, the Department Of Health england, and scotland, the regulatory body, we asked them all foran regulatory body, we asked them all for an interview, they all said no, in statements, they told us, these devices have helped millions of Women Suffering from Stress Urinary Incontinence and pelvic prolapse, on that leaked e mail they said, taken out of context it could be extremely misleading, and they said that they will vigorously defend litigation claims. And the mhr ray said that they are committed to addressing the serious concerns raised by some patience and the greater proportion of the Community Support the use of these devices in the uk for the treatment of the distressing conditions of Organ Prolapse and incontinence. More messages, so many people getting in touch from around the country. My wife had mesh surgery the country. My wife had mesh surgery in 2008 and it has ruined our lives and my career. She has been driven to suicidal depression with the pain, incarcerated in a Mental Health ward, left mentally and physically incapable. Mesh surgery is too risky and should be banned. Thank you for highlighting these issues, Dawn On Facebook says, iama these issues, Dawn On Facebook says, i am a medical professional working for the nhs and were stupid enough not to do my research before having the operation, i had it removed in 2015 but i suffered critical pelvic pain, fatigue and repairing urinary tract infections, life as i knew it is no more, im still able to work part time in a gp s surgery and if my knowledge and experience can stop one woman having this, i consider my job done. In 2008, i had a mesh Put Infora Minor Job done. In 2008, i had a mesh put in for a minor prolapse, when your internal pelvic organs dropped a little and sometimes bulge through the vagina and since then i have had six further operations, one to remove scar tissue that had built up, and the final operation saved my life because the mesh had started cutting through the wall of my bowel. I had holes torn into my vagina, constant pain, scottish you around my urethra, i had been made to feel like i was a hypochondriac, i felt depressed because sex was painful, my ex husband believed i was making it up to avoid sex with him, last few years have been awful, i never knew there were more Women Suffering. I thought it was just me, andi suffering. I thought it was just me, and i was being silly. Some of you smiling at that because some of you also felt that, initially, didnt you. I had a realjob to get my doctors do believe it was my mesh, and the thing that got me as well, they kept trying to say it was my back and you can get pain down there. Actually, when they took it out, when the surgeon who took it out, when the surgeon who took it out to it out, it had been implanted incorrectly, had not got into a space without nerves, was sitting at an angle at the top of my groin and left leg and had gone into the nerves. I cannot walk proper, i have lost myjob, my house, my partner. I have lost everything through mesh. That is how i feel. To get the help i have needed. It was a two year battle. If i had not found cat and the group, i was lying in a hospital bed, misdiagnosed, she came on sky news, my father saw it and said, this is what you have got, this is you, it is your mesh. Because he knew that he had that i had in it. People come to the Facebook Support campaign to get the information they need to understand what is wrong with them, i can guarantee you, 99 of women who go back to surgeons are categorically told it is not it, and they should not be having to come to a patient support group. I was told that mine was a neurological overload. Get told so many different diagnoses. None of them accurate. None of them accurate. After 10am, we will talk much more. Thank you for giving up your time today. We really appreciate it, huge response from women and men, partners from around the country. We will read more of those through the rest of the programme, worth pointing out, this story came to us from one of our viewers, who is sitting here, in the audience, from ayrshire, if you have audience, from ayrshire, if you have a story you want us to cover, do e mail us. You can read more about this story on the bbc news site, the most this story on the bbc news site, the m ost rea d this story on the bbc news site, the most read story at the moment. Still to come after prince harry revealed hes had counselling to deal with the grief after the death of his mother, today his Brother William says the british Stiff Upper Lip shouldnt get in the way of seeking help for Mental Health issues. How much of a different does it make when two royals talk openly about these kind of things . Let me know. A court in the us state of arkansas has halted two executions which were due to be carried out by the end of april, well bring you the latest. A Senior Member of north koreas government has warned his country is prepared to engage in what he called all out war, if the United States takes Military Action. North koreas vice Foreign Minister says they will conduct more missile tests. It follows a warning from the us Vice President , mike pence, on a visit to south korea, telling north korea not to test americas resolve. So is there a risk that the situation could escalate into conflict . Well talk about that injust a moment, but first heres a look at what we know about the secretive country. This we can speak to a Research Associate in korean studies at the university of london. He thinks options are now limited their and there is a vista both north and south korea. But first, greg, do you tensions are rising . We have seen north korea in the news a lot recently. The regime has not yet been able to figure out the trump administration. 0ne yet been able to figure out the trump administration. One could have anticipated they would not proceed with a nuclear test over the weekend although they proceeded with a missile test that failed. North koreans have left while being overwhelmed by this guerrilla mentality. The people of north korea are being told that their circumstances are so are being told that their circumstances are so harsh because of external threats, because of external sanctions, and of course nothing could be furtherfrom external sanctions, and of course nothing could be further from the truth. What do you think will happen next . I think we are going through a phase of high rhetoric on both sides. It is notjust the north koreans who do not understand what mr trump is doing, many of us dont. He seems to change policies regularly. But we have been here before. A couple of years back we had declarations of war from the north koreans and The Movement Of American Aircraft into korean air space. Around the same time of the year, always a tense time of the year, always a tense time of the year, always a tense time of year because of the exercises and the feeling they have to react to those exercises. |j exercises and the feeling they have to react to those exercises. I do not think the north koreans have said they will take pre emptive action, that is a first . On occasions they have said they are at war with the United States, all with south korea, depending on the circumstances. Im not sure we are seeing an increase in the north korean threat. The limitations imposed by them on technology, how far they have developed things. Whatever they say i dont think it will necessarily mean a change in what they do and that matters. Can i ask about the americans. They say the strategic patience, President Trump and mike pence, that strategic patience is over. What can that mean next for the americas . patience is over. What can that mean next for the americas . I am not sure what it means. Strategic patience was the term the 0bama administration used for not doing anything very much. It is not really anything very much. It is not really an option. You need less patience and more strategy and you have not really got that. John everard is the former British Ambassador in pyongyang. What do you think strategic patience from the americans being over means . strategic patience from the americans being over means . I dont think it means a great deal. I think the options before President Trump are pretty much the same as options with which president 0bama wrestled and he will probably come to the same conclusions. We are likely to see an increase in diplomatic and economic pressure. They will attempt to increase sanctions against north korea. Apart from that, probably steady as she goes. What kind of pressure can the americans put on china to bring to bear on north korea . They can threaten all kinds of things, a trade war, which would send china into a tailspin, they can threaten a general breakdown in bilateral relations, but to do either of those things, america would shoot itself in the foot and the chinese know that. They know that the americans really cannot force them to take actions they do not want to take. What do you think by happen next . I think for while well have a war of words. The Deputy Foreign minister has entered into this and i am sure we will see the Carrier Task Force standing off north korea for a little while. And that things will go quiet again, until the north koreans do as they promise and conduct a sixth nuclear test. When that happens i think most bets are off. We will have to see whether the chinese follow through on the threat, whether to support economic sanctions, including possibly cutting off north koreas oil supplies and how much force there is behind President Trumps veiled threats to use armed force if there is a further tests. Ican be i can be you more comments about the mesh implant story. This programme learned more than 800 women are taking legal action against the nhs and the manufacturers of the implants because of the pain so many are in. Bella said she had never heard about this. Dave, he says, you are trailblazers. I knew nothing about this but i do now. We will talk more after 10am. The top court in arkansas has halted two lethal injection executions that were due to start a series of seven in 11 days. The states Supreme Court acted hours before convicted murderers don davis and bruce ward were due to die. Their lawyers had argued they were mentally unfit to face execution and were denied proper assessment. However a Blanket Ruling made on saturday that the executions could not go ahead because the lethal injection causes suffering has been overruled. All seven executions are driven by the states desire to use a batch of drugs before it expires later this month but its been condemned by critics as an inhumane assembly line. One of the seven, ledell lee, spoke to our washington correspondent Aleem Macqbool from prison. We can now speak to Bobby Ampezzan managing editor of arkansas public media. Joining me is maya foa, director at Human Rights Charity reprieve. What is the reaction to the fact two executions have been halted . The reaction is split. Among a certain set of people in arkansas, there is probably some delight that the executions were halted but here in the states poll puts support for the Death Penalty upwards of 60 . Many people have taken to social media to express their delight at the impending executions and how deserved they are. It is a divisive issue. From your charitys point of view, presumably you welcomed the two halted. There is still a long way to go . Absolutely. What we see in the us is go . Absolutely. What we see in the usisa go . Absolutely. What we see in the us is a decline overall for the Death Penalty and in arkansas it was an extraordinary situation, eight scheduled in the space of ten days, which would have been the largest Mass Execution since the civil right earand it Mass Execution since the civil right ear and it caused consternation across the us, even from those supporting the Death Penalty. I think the unseemly haste caused deep concern. Driven by the desire it would seem to use this drug in the lethal injection before its sell by date . That is right and the problem the Arkansas Department of corrections is facing, and other departments, is a problem of their making. They want to use medicine designed to save and improve lives in these executions, which are designed to end the lives of prisoners. The manufacturers of the medicines and the Health Care Industry does not want that so they put controls in place. Our arkansas has tried time and again to undermine the Control Systems and now we are seeing a undermine the Control Systems and now we are seeing a reaction from the company saying, we do not accept this, this is not what we made them for, we made medicine to save lives. Bobby, what will happen next . The other big news today is that the eighth Us Circuit Court of appeals in missouri decided to vacate the lower courts, the Federal District judges ruling, to put a stay on all of the executions, fast lifting the kind of i would say this day that most folks thought would. Certainly it is the most sweeping stay so far. Now it is up to the us Supreme Court. Whether they uphold the eighth circuits vacation of the earlier ruling or whether they will overturn that. And uphold or support thejudge, the Federal District courtjudge. There are charities and human Rights Groups Around The World trying to stop this happening in arkansas. What else are you able to do in the time limit . It will be interesting to watch the next day s play out. The choice of the medicine and the case we heard about to play for, this sedative, rather than an anaesthetic. It is an inappropriate choice of drug and has caused botched up executions in every state that has experimented with it, to the point that most have abandoned it. I will be interested to watch the Court Process because it is not a settled question as to whether this is cruel and unusual. We would save the lethal injection in itself isa save the lethal injection in itself is a cruel form of punishment and should be abandoned as a failed experiment. Thank you. We will bring you the latest news and sport in a couple of minutes and we will talk further about Mesh Implants after 10am. I have e mails from people who got in touch. Alex said why should the minority who suffer stop the majority from having mesh fitted in the future . Should i sue the nhs for getting ill when i use statins that i need . Judy said she was offered this implant yesterday. Harry said he watched the informative discussion and he knew that if a similar procedure had been used on men and the outcome similar, they would have been banned years ago. Carol said she had the operation in 2013 and is still suffering the effects today. She said she has had the mesh removed. She said it was eroding into her bladder and the pain was excruciating, like no other. She said it made herfeel unwell and depressed and she suffered with infections and was limited, lifting, pulling, stretching, everyday life. She said the day she had the operation is the day she will regret. She said, i have since had three operations to correct the damage but i am nowhere near back to normal. Jena said, i now spend my daysin normal. Jena said, i now spend my days in pain. Hashtag disabled. If youre watching on bbc two, in a moment World Championship snooker. So to continue watching our programme turn over to the bbc news channel where coming up in the next half hour. Well bring you more on the scandal of vaginal mesh implant hearing much more from these women and well speak to one surgeon who says the benefits do outweigh the risks. Lets get the latest Weather Update with carol. Good morning. It has been a cold start with frost around. Temperatures starting to rise and a lot of sunshine. If you are in the breeze in the south east, it will feel cold and the cloud will continue to build. Later we will see spots of rain. That rain will move further eastwards through the course of the night. Remaining in Northern Ireland, but it is spots of rain. It means tomorrow there is a fair bit of sunshine. There will be cloud in the north. You will find through the course of the day it will break and we will see sunny spells developed but still showers flirting with the west. Tomorrow, we are looking at a similar range. Round about 12 14 celsius. 0n looking at a similar range. Round about 12 14 celsius. On thursday, some brighter breaks with sunshine and showers. And then the next band of rain comes into the north west. Good morning. Welcome to the programme. This programme has discovered hundreds of women are skewing the nhs and manufacturers over what they described as barbaric but final mesh vagina Mesh Implants. I have depression, i have had to see an emergency counsellor. Iam seeing had to see an emergency counsellor. I am seeing a physiotherapist to keep myjoints moving, because they are seizing up. Because the pain is so severe. We arejoined by we are joined by a we arejoined by a group of we are joined by a group of women who have all been affected and their family members, do you think these Mesh Implants should be banned on the nhs . Why . I was not warned of the nhs . Why . I was not warned of the risks, i only had my operation on the 1st of february, i was not warned of the risks. It has changed everything i do in my life, i cannot even attend to myjob, i was told it would be four to six weeks off work and then i could return to myjob, it has been since the 1st of february. What about you . Most definitely they should be banned, it is like a device from the dark ages and it is not fit for use with the human body, the body is rejecting the mesh. We will hear more from those in the studio in the next half hour, the full exclusive story in the next couple of minutes. If you have had a Mesh Implants and it has worked for you, please get in touch. Also, smashing the stigma on Mental Health, Vince Williams calls for an end to the Stiff Upper Lip and releases this video of him chatting with lady gaga. How did you find speaking out and how did it make you feel . Prince you cannot help it if in the morning when you wake up you are so tired, you are so when you wake up you are so tired, you are so sad, you are so full of anxiety, but i would wake up telling myself i should be happy because of the great things i have. Commissioner of the metropolitan Police Cressida Dick said you will not be crying wolf if her force as to make further spending cuts and scotla nd to make further spending cuts and Scotland Yard may have to find new ways to Police London if new methods are available. We havejust ways to Police London if new methods are available. We have just said theresa may is going to give what is described as a Surprise Statement outside Downing Street Interest under one hours time, just under 11am, as you can see, some rumours are that she could be announcing a Snap General Election. Rumours at the moment. Theresa may, Prime Minister, we are told will give a statement outside Downing Street just under an hours time, some rumours suggesting theresa may could be about to announce a Snap General Election. We had a general election last year, you may remember. Last may, 2016. Those are the rumours, obviously, stay with bbc news, we will bring you the statement live from Downing Street as soon as she appears on the steps. The duke of cambridge has made every year with lady gaga as part of his Mental Health campaign in which they discuss her own battle with Mental Health and urged people to speak up about how they are feeling, it comes after prince harry said that he sought counselling to come to terms with the death of their mother, the video was broadcast on facebook. feel like we are no longer hiding, we are starting to talk. People need to feel very normal about Mental Health, it is like physical health, eve ryo ne health, it is like physical health, everyone has Mental Health, having a conversation can make such a difference. The us Vice President mike pence has called for more global pressure to be put on north korea to rein in nuclear ambitions, speaking in tokyo where he has arrived for talks after visiting south korea. The comments follow a warning from north korea that they would carry out a pre Emptive Nuclear strike if there were signs that the us was preparing an attack. The United States of america believes the time has come for the International Community to use both diplomatic and economic pressure to bring north korea to a place that it has avoided successfully now formal thana has avoided successfully now formal than a generation, and we will not re st than a generation, and we will not rest and we will not relent until we achieve the objective of a denuclearise korean peninsula. An investigation by this programme has found that more than 800 uk women are taking legal action against the nhs and the makers of vaginal Mesh Implants. The implants are used to treat pelvic Organ Prolapse and incontinence after childbirth, but some can cut into the joiner. It can cause severe discomfort. Some women have been left in permanent pain, unable to walk, work or have sex. 0ne pain, unable to walk, work or have sex. One woman, bonita barrett, gave victoria emotional testimony this morning, on the effect it had had on her life. I had what felt like a block of ice attached to my buttocks, constant pain, almost like torture, the Elastic Band Feeling had turned to almost an acid, a fire in my nerves, it got stronger over the two years. Now i am on as many tramadol as i am allowed to take all stop i am getting this barbaric torture item removed. Britains most Senior Police officer, cressida dick, has been speaking about her new role as metropolitan police commissioner. Shes told the bbc this morning that the fight against knife and gun crime will define her time in thejob. Shes said she would be prepared to support the increased use of controversial stop and search powers to tackle the problem. Ministers are to set out new proposals to speed up appeals by foreign criminals and failed Asylum Seekers held in detention. A previous Fast Track Scheme was scrapped 2 years ago after the Court Of Appeal ruled it unlawful. Officials say that, if implemented, the system could speed up around 2,000 cases a year. The Supreme Court in The American State Of Arkansas has halted two executions which were due to have been the first of seven to be carried out before the end of the month. Lawyers for the two convicted murderers had raised questions about their mental competence. The arkansas government said it would seek an immediate review. Its supply of one of the drugs used in the lethal injections will expire at the end of april. Rumours are that theresa may is going to call a Snap General Election. Those are rumours at the moment, we will presumably get confirmation when she actually speaks, when she gives her statement at Downing Street, there are one or two things in the way of calling a Snap General Election, not least the fixed Terms Parliament act, which mps fixed Terms Parliament act, which m ps voted fixed Terms Parliament act, which mps voted for not long ago, which allows a general election every five yea rs, allows a general election every five years, i think they could overcome that if there was support from opposition parties. 0ne that if there was support from opposition parties. One or two hurdles in the way. If that is what the Prime Minister is going to announce. We are going to watch the statement live. Sport Breaking Sports News from this morning, Birmingham City have appointed Harry Redknapp is the new manager, the former west ham united, totte n ha m manager, the former west ham united, Tottenham Hotspur and qpr boss succeeds gianfranco zola, who resigned yesterday following defeat against burton, 70 years old now, he took Charge Ofjordan for two World Cup Qualifiers and has advised Derby Cou Nty Last Cup Qualifiers and has advised derby county last season recently. Birmingham are 20th in the championship, three points above the rural gay and zone, facing rivals aston villa on saturday. Three points above the relegation zone. Right be playing top flight football for the first time in 32 years this season for the first time in 32 years this season next season, they secured a place in the Premier League after a place in the Premier League after a victory yesterday 2 1, almost 20 yea rs a victory yesterday 2 1, almost 20 years to the day from when they were 20 minutes from dropping out of the Football League, they have been forced to play matches 70 miles away, in chillingham, and by home games at a converted athletics stadium. Arsenal kept alive their top four hopes, with a 2 1victory at second bottom middlesbrough, this brilliance free kick from Alexis Sanchez gave them the lead, middlesbrough levelled when Alvaro Negredo volleyed in the cross. Arsenal are up to six, seven points behind fourth placed Manchester City with a game in hand, middlesbrough remain in deep relegation trouble, six points from safety. Mesut 0zil scored arsenals winner. Will this be a Snap General Election . wish i could tell you one way or the other full. Highly unusual and semi ways, normally when we get these big moments there is plenty of advance briefing. One way or the other. Really, we know nothing beyond the factories in may will be making a statement in Downing Street around 11 15am. Prime minister only makes Downing Street statement is when it is something pretty significant, it is either, it is either a moment that can be a response to a terrorist attack, David Cameron did A View In His b rex it David Cameron did A View In His brexit negotiations, at key moments it can be resignation statements, election statements, it can be personal statements, we do not know. If you go through the options, personal statement, obviously, theresa may suffers from diabetes but she looks very healthy, she has been jetting diabetes but she looks very healthy, she has beenjetting around diabetes but she looks very healthy, she has been jetting around all over the place and does not really seem to bea the place and does not really seem to be a prospect of a health issue. Foreign policy moment, it is hard to see how we would get embroiled in syria, let alone career, no sense of anything building up. Cabinet is going on now, so theresa may is briefing her cabinet on the statement, and inevitably, there is chitchat about could it possibly be an early election. The big no no for thatis an early election. The big no no for that is theresa may and number ten have been absolutely clear, throughout recent weeks and months, she will not go for an early election, she will stick it through to 2020, again and again they have rebuffed that idea, but if she were to go foran rebuffed that idea, but if she were to go for an early election, with the labour party in real difficulties, would she care that she had gone back on her word if she won a massive majority, would that bother her . The political advantages would be enormous, assuming she won bya would be enormous, assuming she won by a hefty margin, which seems possible, a lead of more than 20 points overJeremy Corbyn. This could give the country the mandate to pursue brexit negotiations, they will not kick in until late in they will not kick in until late in the autumn, a narrow window here, also giving her a mandate to pursue her own agenda, not David Camerons, ditching stuff she does not like. Perhaps that commitment to give 0. 7 in overseas aid may go out the window, a whole load of things become possible. Extraordinary big bold move. In terms of timing, we have the main local elections, only two weeks away, so. Im not sure if there is a legal time frame by which you have to give notice before you can call an election, only two weeks until the local elections, which would seem the fears points to go for, it would have to be somewhere later down the line, this is speculation, i do not know, havent the Faintest Idea what she will say, beyond, it will be something big. Cannot wait, thank you very much. I did say earlier that the last general election was last year, of course, 2015, echoes of the fixed Term Parliament act, it was 2015. We have a group of voters in all over the country, i will throw you this curveball. Because of the fixed Term Parliament act. What do you think of a Snap General Election . Stand. A good idea. Brexit, everything else, all these legal cases, it would give a clear mandate if that is what she is doing. I hope shes not coming out to say that she has had mesh fitted, otherwise we need to head over to Downing Street laughter lets talk more about mesh, with the audience here today. This morning the women who say a simple nhs procedure has ruined their lives leaving them registered disabled, in permanent pain, unable to walk, work or have sex. All of these women have had a vaginal mesh implant to treat Bladder Incontinence or prolapse. Its meant to act as a hammock to hold up the pelvic organs or the uretha in the case of Bladder Incontinence. In an exclusive report this programme has learnt that hundreds of women are taking legal action against the nhs and manufacturers for failing to warn them of the potential risks. It could end up costing the nhs Tens Of Millions of pounds. This is a vaginal mesh. Its used when women have a prolapse, or Bladder Incontinence, often brought on by childbirth. It is often made from polypropylene, thats the same material used to make this kind of drinks bottle. For most women, Mesh Implants work, but around one in 11 experienced problems when they disintegrate or erode, leaving some in permanent pain, unable to work or have sex. 0ver over the last five years, i counted, i have heard 53 admissions because i am in agonising pain. My husband has turned into my carer, he is so much less of my husband. We cannot have sex. We have not had sex for four and a half years. Now we have learned that more than 800 women are taking legal action against the nhs and the manufacturers over the implant, some want to see them banned completely on the nhs. Implant, some want to see them banned completely on the nhsw implant, some want to see them banned completely on the nhs. It is a device of torture. One the procedure banned, iwant a device of torture. One the procedure banned, i want the material banned. Do you believe the nhs should stop using these measures . I do believe they should stop using these measures. Here, you should be saying, honestly, we are able to tell you, here is a device, here is the benefit, here is the long term harm, if you cannot say that, you should not make it available. If the mhra believes the benefits outweigh the risks. Doctor mark slack is a surgeon who carries out some types of procedures. slack is a surgeon who carries out some types of procedures. I have sympathy for a patient who has severe pain. Is it worth it . Not for that group. Is it worth it . Not for that group. Is it worth it . Not for that group. Is it worth it for all patients . Is it worth it . Not for that group. Is it worth it for all patients7m is difficult to say. A recent ruling in scotland said Mesh Implants should not be routinely used for prolapse. Critics called it a whitewash. A review is under way in england and wales. Compensation could cause the nhs cost the nhs. I have no control over my bladder. I will not leave the house until i know my bowel is ok. What is the impact on you . I have extensive nerve damage in my leg, my foot, i have double incontinence with bowel and bladder. I have depression. I have had to go and seek an emergency counsellor. I have fibromyalgia. I never thought that having a 40 minute procedure, twice, would be this devastating. Ijust didnt. As youd expect, we asked johnson and johnson, ethicon, the nhs, the Department Of Health in england and in scotland and the regulatory body the mhra for interviews they all said no. But in a Statement Ethicon told us these devices have helped millions of Women Suffering from Stress Urinary Incontinence and pelvic Organ Prolapse. They say they no longer market them for prolapse. On that leaked email they said taken out of context it could be extremely misleading. And they say theyll vigorously defend litigation claims. And indeed they have defended those claims successfully in the us. The mhra told us theyre committed to helping address the serious concerns raised by some patients and that the greater proportion of the Clinical Community and patients support the use of these devices in the uk for treatment of the distressing conditions of incontinence and Organ Prolapse. With us here a group of women whove all been affected by vaginal Mesh Implants. Plus dr mark slack a Consultant Gynaecologist and urogynaecologist who you saw in that film and who carries out some types of Mesh Implants. Labour mp 0wen smith, who is planning to hold a parliamentary debate on the issue. Sarahjane richards, a solicitor, who is representing some of the women taking legal action. How bad was it to have Bladder Incontinence, or a prolapse . Described to the audience watching what that was like. Nancy. For me, after having my two children, i could no longer do normal things such as go running, playing on the trampoline. So i went to the doctor and they advised tests. I had that done. I still had problems. And they advised tests. I had that done. Istill had problems. I had medication to try, that did not help. They said the 20 minute operation would change my life for the better. You regret it . Yes. Why . I was not informed fully of the risks. I am on the list to get removal, which will be partial removal, which will be partial removal because of the type of mesh i have. When you showed us the kit earlier, that is the first time i had seen one. You mean this, the trocars and the mesh . Yes. And to think that is in my body. Does it sound familiar to others here. That effectively you are told, pop it in, 20 minutes, your life will be different . Does that sound familiar . I was told it was the best thing since sliced bread, it would change my life for the better. It is changed it, it is so not better. My life for the better. It is changed it, it is so not battenm has changed completely. Was it implanted for a prolapse . When the internal pelvic organs drop, or incontinence . Both, really, because i was older. And the impact on you . John is my carer now. I can shop. I can drive short distances. I used to drive all over the country without any pain. John . I pick up the pieces now and where it hurts is things like grandchildren. She cannot pick them up any more. How do you explain that to a three year old . We were not told there were other options. We were not told anything about the possible impact when it goes wrong and when it does go wrong and it seems to me even when you have it reversed you still have all the co nsta nt reversed you still have all the constant pain. You cannot get rid of it. Once you have had it, it is too late. And research. I do not think the medical profession have done enough research, either before they started using the things, all the impact afterwards. They really dont know how many it affects and in what way. This is why i think it should be stopped. Claire, for the audience, would you mind showing them what is called a bowel irrigation system, which you have to use in order to mp to empty your bladder and bowel. My pelvic floor dysfunction is nil. There is nothing left a ny dysfunction is nil. There is nothing left any more, it is dead. Because of the implant . Yes. My bowel does not function on its own. You put tubes together and this is filled with warm water. And then you inflate. There is a catheter and you inflate. There is a catheter and you inflate the balloon on the catheter and put it up your back passage and slowly filled with warm water to irrigate your bowel so it could empty. You have to do that before you leave the house . Yes. What do you leave the house . Yes. What do you think about the fact you are in that position . I think it is totally disgusting. It was a Gold Standard procedure that would change my life for the better and my life has been destroyed. By the mesh. Annemarie, would you agree . Definitely. I am waiting. I was to get that system on the 9th of march but on the 7th of march i got a phone call telling me i had been discussed at a meeting and they wanted me to try another drug for my bowel before they would give me that. We just seem to have tojump give me that. We just seem to have to jump through hoops. Give me that. We just seem to have tojump through hoops. When give me that. We just seem to have to jump through hoops. When we present gps with the problems we have got, they dont know. I have been tested for lupus, ms, they told mel been tested for lupus, ms, they told me i have fibromyalgia. I have problems with my liver, my kidneys, because of the medication i am on. This morning i had 40 mg of one drug, 150 mg of another and this morning i had 40 mg of one drug, 150 mg ofanotherand i this morning i had 40 mg of one drug, 150 mg of another and i have three patches on my back and side which releases an anaesthetic. You wear rich 12 hours. It is actually painful for you wear rich 12 hours. It is actually painfulfor you to sit wear rich 12 hours. It is actually painful for you to sit down. Stand up painful for you to sit down. Stand up whenever you need to. You have been this morning. My day consists of getting up in the morning, i watched the victoria show and have a bite to eat. When i watch you i stand against the wall. And you have your crutches. I have my stick. I have a mobility scooter. I have two dogs. I take them out on my mobility scooter. I have a three wheeler if i go shopping. It is horrendous. Totally dismissed in the nhs. Let me bring in our doctor. When you look at some of the women here, do you still say it is worth it . In no way ami still say it is worth it . In no way am i going to try to trivialise what is clearly major disability these patients are suffering, and a life changing event. As a result of their surgery. Changing event. As a result of their surgery. Please forgive me if at any point in the conversation it would seem point in the conversation it would seem i am not taking that seriously, because it concerns us deeply about any patient operated on, irrespective of the category of surgery we are irrespective of the category of surgery we are doing. I occupy a funny position because i have litigated against the Pharmaceutical Companies in the us at considerable Reputational Risk to myself about things i believe they have not done correctly. The third problem is we are talking about mesh, or an incontinence operation as a single procedure. There are 100 different meshes and 150 different operations. There are ten, 15 different ways of doing the operations. Even knowing all that, with people who use wheelchairs and registered disabled and have crutches to walk, is it worth it . Can you say to these women it is worth it . I am not going to pick out these women as individuals who are disabled and troubled. We are individuals. Sure. I cannot afford to patronise all patients and they have the right to make a decision based on objective and clear outcomes. Why i introduced the concept of differences in operations, some are all worth associated with high complication rates and others with low ones. The traditional surgery that does not have mesh in them also have major complications, short and long term. 810 of complications, short and long term. 8 10 of patients in the us who have undergone surgery without mesh are still taking opiate analgesia, strong painkillers, 12 months after surgery. Strong painkillers, 12 months after surgery. I understand. I am strong painkillers, 12 months after surgery. I understand. Iam not strong painkillers, 12 months after surgery. I understand. I am not sure thatis surgery. I understand. I am not sure that is consolation. Everybody understands undertaking surgery is a risk. Some of you said the risks. Everybody understands surgery risk, the risk of the implant. We were not informed fully, how wrong it can go when it goes wrong. 0ne one of the big challenges in medicine generally is the provision of appropriate data, listening to patients carefully and coming to a joint Decision Making process. It is not up to doctors to make the decision for patients, it is for us to inform them and patients to make a decision for themselves. to inform them and patients to make a decision for themselves. I had a lack of information. If i had been told there were alternatives i would have ta ken it told there were alternatives i would have taken it than have this poison in my body. Surgeons are not fully informing people of the risks. You defend mesh. Last summeryou informing people of the risks. You defend mesh. Last summer you were at a conference and he blatantly said people will look back on Mesh Implants as one of the darkest days in withins medical history. I wrote about that. Here you are today on the film saying you would implant a mesh into your wife. With these Mesh Operations you are inserting polypropylene plastic will stop using hoax. They look like butchers hooks. At the beginning of this year, the american watchdog body said the risks of those hooks can cause injuries in up to 40 of women having mesh and also for women having mesh and also for women having mesh and also for women having mesh for incontinence. There was a report by a surgeon in a leading journal. That shows this plastic mesh can shrink and there are complications it up to 15 of surgeries. Nobody knows the true risk of the scale and we are suffering in a simple 20 minute operation. We should have been fully informed of the risks and we have not been. These are the trocar. I am william from scotland and i am nancys husband. The point i wanted to make, when nancy had the procedure, and the complications started, at some point after, it was not immediate, there were some complications straightaway, but the big painful episodes she has, controlled with, what is it, tramadol. It knocks her out sometimes 18 hours a day and we have a young family. They do not see her because she is sleeping. My point before that is there seems to be a relu cta nce before that is there seems to be a reluctance from doctors and gps and professionals these ladies go to to even suggest there might be a link to the mesh and these symptoms. Owen smith, one in11 to the mesh and these symptoms. Owen smith, one in 11 go wrong. Is that a risk worth taking . Not for those women. My view is the reason i want to bring it to parliament, we have not had a debate. I am here because you have a constituent in the audience whose life has been transformed for the worse by the operation. It is clear to me there is an emerging problem. It is clear to me the effects for the women that get adverse effects are crippling, with chronic pain. I think there needs to be greater investigation. There is a good case for saying suspend its use until there is clarity about the scale of the problems and there is definitely evidence to suggest we should speed up evidence to suggest we should speed up investigation. And definitely, evidence to suggest we should speed up investigation, why has it taken so long to get up new guidelines, why is there not a registry established, to get the data we need, we know that some of these things are in the pipeline, it has taken an awful long time, in the meantime, women living with awful complications. Are you saying they should be banned . complications. Are you saying they should be banned . I am not a clinician so it is not for me to say that but as a layperson, albeit somebody who has worked for Pharmaceutical Companies in the past, as a layperson, my review of the evidence, i have read a lot about it, suggest there is growing evidence to suggest it is a problem, a growing number of women are coming forward , a growing number of women are coming forward, the nature of the adverse events they are suffering are really profound, the last study i read, one in ten women is having the source of problems post surgery, and it says. It begs questions about whether this is a safe procedure, it isa whether this is a safe procedure, it is a minority but it is a significant minority, their voice needs to be heard, i pay tribute to all of the women who have raised this issue, they have to break through quite a lot of their defensive barriers from a Clinical Community about this, but they are breaking through it. The nhs in england has already paid out £484,000 in damages. Sarahjane richards, you are representing some of the women taking legal action, some of this has been successful for your clients in the past, what did the pay out range between . Your clients in the past, what did the payout range between . First of all, the pay out is not reflect the pain, suffering, and loss of capacity. The money you have spent, either in losses, or in trying to get back to the position you are in, from. From what to what . The range over all can be anything between £25,000 up to £500,000. Half £1 million to one person, awarded to one person but i will very quickly say that the element of the pain, the suffering and the loss of immunity is generally very small. What increases the damage is the financial loss but people have incurred, somebody who has lost employment will have a higher award, because there are special damages will be higher. The Pain Suffering Award is generally low. will be higher. The Pain Suffering Award is generally low. I have a leaflet which talks about some of the risks, how many of you were told that this was permanent . 0nly the risks, how many of you were told that this was permanent . Only two. What are the disadvantages of a permanent mesh . There are disadvantages. Really, the material can become infected, or recognised by the body as foreign and be rejected. Scar tissue can form around the mesh. Scar tissue. Could you find it, it is on there. Scar tissue could form around the mesh, making it stiffer and causing pain, especially during intercourse, over time, the mesh can wear through the tissues, so that it pokes through the vaginal skin and less common leaf through the wall of the urethra, bladder or bowel, this is called erosion. You are shaking your head. Less common link. Commonly. Did it talk about erosion . Coming stiffer . The plastic becoming harder . Its talked about one in 50 experiencing pain in their legs, it was very much glossed over, it was a psu g leaflet that i was given discussing the fact that it is a sling or tape and everything is going to be wonderful, does not discuss the fact that you will be in pain afterwards, or that that could bea pain afterwards, or that that could be a side effect. It discusses the post surgery pain but does not discuss the option of living with painfor discuss the option of living with pain for the rest of your life. think that if you gave that to any woman, they would say. They would say no. No woman in their right mind would say, i am happy, i will have that. I was told it was a permanent implant, and i was not told it was mesh, i was told it was a tape, part of a Prolapse Repair, ppped a tape, part of a Prolapse Repair, poppedin a tape, part of a Prolapse Repair, popped in as part of the operation. We will pop it in at the same time as repairing your prolapse. As i say, i was not told anything much about it, the usual anaesthetic risks, and my pain began, really, about four months after the operation, i expected pain after the operation, i expected pain after the operation but instead of getting better, i was getting worse, went back to my consultant, who shook his set and back to my consultant, who shook his setand said, back to my consultant, who shook his set and said, you are about to be the first person to suffer with this. He said that, he said, are you about to be the first of my patients to suffer with a complication . Those words we use to use, and yet most women are saying. Words we use to use, and yet most women are saying. I was described as weird and wonderful by my surgeon, as weird and wonderful by my surgeon, and you told me, i had looked on the internet, i had no idea it was mesh until august, thank goodness for the Patient Support Groups i found in 2010, that informed me i was not the only one, i had to do all of my own research. He told me i was reading too much on the internet and reading the pain into me. By november i was in excruciating pain, lives turned upside down, my husband had to take over a lot of the Household Jobs that we had to do. By december, i was seeking the advice privately of another surgeon will stop having to travel over 160 miles to find that. Iwas travel over 160 miles to find that. I was seeking the advice privately of another surgeon. A lot of people are getting in touch with us privately, and i keep saying it because it is true. It has been pointed out. Millions of women have this procedure, one of the many different types of Mesh Implants out there and it works for them, what is your advice to anyone watching now he might be worried, might be anxious . Patients come to us in my unit we provide all of the options, which is a tv to base operation, and it is up to us to give them the information for the patient to make the decision, i dont want to patronise my patients, i dont want to be in a situation of saying, i dont have an operation for you, i saying, i dont have an operation foryou, iam saying, i dont have an operation for you, i am not going to give you the tvt. Slings have serious consequences in a small percentage of people. I was not even offered, i was told, this is what you are getting, this is what we are doing. They never gave me the choices. dont think thats correct. We were not given that choice. A lot of our discussion here, which is why i value people like yourself, who are willing to come forward and have a say about where you have been and what you have experience, a lot of what you have experience, a lot of what we need to do in medicine, i have to sit in the middle somewhere, i have sued Pharmaceutical Companies and also defended patients and defended certain operations which i think are good on the basis that i wa nt think are good on the basis that i want people to get better. I want people to experience as few complications as possible. It is up to me. A complications as possible. It is up to me. A person. 79 risk of getting a wind infection. 56 of those will have to go back to hospital to have it treated, people have second procedures in up to 30 of these for prolapse, these are serious secondary interventions. What we are suffering now is serious. We are suffering the adverse reactions, there is no testing before hand, adverse reactions, there is no testing beforehand, you dont know. There is people that dont read newspapers, dont watch the news, ladies will come out of the woodwork, and men, for hernia mesh is. If people undergo surgery, there is. If people undergo surgery, there isa is. If people undergo surgery, there is a risk of developing neuropathic pain, even without a mesh. If we cut the skin, cut tissue, you can get neuropathic pain. Ongoing, lifelong pain, asa neuropathic pain. Ongoing, lifelong pain, as a consequence of surgery not involving mesh. I will pause there. Owen smith, final word to you, you are raising this in parliament with the hope of doing what . Getting the Clinical Community to look much harder at this, i think there is emerging evidence that this isa there is emerging evidence that this is a much bigger problem than people have appreciated, as ladies have said, there is clearly long term serious consequences when it goes wrong, some women, the majority of women, it does not appear to go wrong, when it goes wrong, it goes wrong, when it goes wrong, it goes wrong with catastrophic consequences, that requires much greater scrutiny and parliament is one place to start. Thank you all very much. Quick word. This mesh is put in blindly by surgeons, am i right in believing that . That is what i have read. Mine was put in blindly, and it was not put in the right position, how about all the women who are in that, so yes, it is notjust women who are in that, so yes, it is not just nerve women who are in that, so yes, it is notjust nerve pain, it is actually damaging nerves. Correct. I am often ina damaging nerves. Correct. I am often in a wheelchair, i have lost myjob and my house, a lot of us women, i met some lovely women here, we are all in very similar position, we have had to fight every step of the way to try to get gps even to listen. It could just be this, it is a bit of scar tissue, well, scar tissue, when you have something stuck at an angle. Surgical compensation as potentially an inept surgeon or compensation as potentially an inept surgeon or undertrained surgeon, which i accept. That would kid good, yes. What im going to stop you there, i want to thank you for Making The Money Mental Effort to get here, thank you so much, thank you, all of you, for coming on the programme here today, and for talking about some really personal things and we appreciate your honesty and openness. At the end of the day, the manufacturers, profit, before anybody else. Applause for details on organisations that offer advice and support, go to the bbc website. While owen smith is here, as a labour mp, the big Breaking News, there is speculation over why a theresa may the Prime Minister is about to give a statement just after 11am on minister is about to give a statementjust after 11am on the steps of Downing Street, could it be a Snap General Election . I have heard nothing about it, came to discuss something far more important, the plight of the women in this audience. Ive no idea what theresa may is going to do. As a labour politician, would you welcome a Snap General Election . Always look forward to general elections, they area forward to general elections, they are a lot of fun stop what we will be live to Downing Street in just a moment but first, vicky yeung, what is the latest . They are a lot of fun. As you know, westminster likes nothing more than a bit of speculation, number one on the list has got to be the possibility of a Snap General Election, even though theresa may has a constantly she would not have an early general election, you can see why she may well be tempted, looking at the polls, labour in all sorts of trouble, she has a very small majority, causing the problems, and the temptation must be absolutely huge for her. There are other possibilities, it could be an announcement about Northern Ireland, direct rule, could it be a resignation on health grounds, another possibility, or a Foreign Policy announcement, all of those possible. The reason this is so unusual is because Prime Ministers do not often come out into Downing Street and get behind the lectern reserved for very big significant announcements, and the other thing which is unusual here is that there has notably net there has not been any pre briefing, often the Prime Minister will come out and talk about Foreign Policy and there will be a pre briefing but we have not had anything like that, Downing Street will know that they are speculating about the possibility of a general election. We do have the fixed Term Parliament act, the next election is set for 2020 and not before but there are ways around that, theresa may could strike to Ask Parliament to vote for it, two thirds of mps would have to do that, that would be 434 mps, labour sources close to Jeremy Corbyn have said in the last few weeks they would vote for a general election, the other option for theresa may is to try to get a no confidence vote in herown to try to get a no confidence vote in her own government, which would be pretty unusual, she would not relish doing it that way but that is the other possibility, she could also overturn the legislation which has fixed Term Parliament set in it but that could be pretty lengthy, might run into trouble in the house of lords. There are ways that she can do it, the issue is whether she wants to do it or not. Up to now, as you know, she is a very cautious politician, people have wondered why she would not be tempted by this. Polls suggesting the tory party would be 20 points ahead of labour, must make it feel to her like a good option, the earliest date it could be, if she were to say today that she wants to do this, may 20 five. There has been speculation that it could be the same day as local elections at the beginning of may, too late for that to happen now. May 25. They may lose to the deborah democrats in some areas but they would hope to gain an awful lot from labour, they feel jeremy would hope to gain an awful lot from labour, they feelJeremy Corbyn is leading the labour party in a way that would help the tories. Liberal democrats. She must be buoyed when she looks at the polls and suggests she could get a landslide victory in a general election. The downside, she has said very clearly, only a few weeks ago her official spokesman said it was not going to happen, this idea of an early election, she would have to go back on that, but within just a few hours of this happening, people will have forgotten about that, the only question, whether voters have fatigue, if they have voted recently, only two years ago, the general election, which David Cameron won, and the referendum. Brexit is also relevant here, it is going to be a very tough couple of years for theresa may and i think to have a much bigger majority in the house of commons would really help her. She has run into trouble over the legislation and other policies recently, it is of course much easier to govern if you have a large numberof mps much easier to govern if you have a large number of mps on your side and she may wish to get her own mandate, her own mandate, because it was David Cameron that won the last general election. Norman smith is in Downing Street. What will voters think if she is calling a snap election to boost her majority in a commons . It is a gamble. She made take the view she is more powerful malbay and she is ever going to be and may look back to gordon brown, who hesitated about going for it and bottled it and he had the slow years of drudgery down to election defeat. She might take the view it will never get any better, now is the time. She surprised us. She has been a bold Prime Minister. We thought of her as cautious, who never really does anything out of the ordinary and blow me down, she gets rid of the camera people, ploughs full steam ahead with brexit and continually surprises us. If she went to the snap election, if you look at whats behind me. One burson has sent a message to say it does not have the government logo on it so it will be a conservative party announcement, does that mean it will be a general election . I have no idea. Ifeel like the faulty towers Fawlty Towers episode with manuel saying, i know nothing. I know nothing. It is not larry the cat. Word was going round something had happened. That would get people down here. We have had an hour since the news came out and an early election would have made sense three weeks ago. With local elections and the by election in manchester in three weeks it does not make sense because she cannot just call a snap election. It has to go through parliament. The ball will not start rolling at least another week. People speculating she is unwell. She did not look it at the weekend and though one wishes that. Some say Northern Ireland, but why not make a statement to parliament . We do not know, unless it is something to do with Foreign Policy. Goings on with korea and america. Maybe a change of position that cannot wait until this afternoon in the commons. Maybe she will make a view about the lions rugby squad which is being announced today. Most of the journalists, there which is being announced today. Most of thejournalists, there is which is being announced today. Most of the journalists, there is a sense the other options outside of an election, they look unlikely. The mood is an election seems to be the front running option. She has no better time. She has front running option. She has no bettertime. She has had front running option. She has no better time. She has had two polls with a 21 point lead. She has had 18, 17 point lead with a 21 point lead. She has had 18,17 point lead is the last with a 21 point lead. She has had 18, 17 point lead is the last few weeks. It does not make sense to do it now but in the absence of anything else all we can talk about is an early election. We had cabinet this morning at 8 30am. They are still in there. I know from standing outside cabinet, they usually packing within an hour, our and a half. No one has left the room. You have not had shots of them disappearing. The e mail came from Downing Street said there would be a lobby briefing post cabinet at midday, suggesting it was a normal day. All i can say is anticipation is growing, the crowd is building, tourists are gathering behind us. We will find out at 11 15am. It is extraordinary. The times we live in politically are extraordinary with brexit, donald trump, theresa may, boris. We have become used to momentous moments. Nothing is predictable any more. Writing political satire its hard to satirise what is going on because of what is actually happening. We have three hours after the announcement before the common sit and. three hours after the announcement before the common sit and. I have to stop you there. Vicki young. I think you are outside westminster . It is me in the studio. Ijust wa nted it is me in the studio. Ijust wanted to ask if it is about a quick general election, what would it mean for the opposition parties, particularly labour . You would have to say it does not look great. We had polls over the weekend suggesting they were 21 points behind. You are going back to the darkest days of michael foot to come up darkest days of michael foot to come up with anything like that. They talk a good game and have been rolling out policies but nobody is under any illusion they face a titanic task. Go back before recess with the by election in copeland, when theresa may won a seat she should never have won from labour. That may have led her to the view that this is the moment, i cannot do any better, i am winning labour seats in government, go for it. Plenty of people in tory ranks have said get on with it. William hague, he takes the role of outsider, who is incredibly plugged in. The other day he wrote a long article saying, really, i think you ought to look seriously at an early election because the advantages are significant. Remember, she was pretty emphatic about not having a quick general election, not going for it, because she said it was not in the national interest. Going back on her word, that is not good for any politician. There are real problems here. This is a woman who has built her reputation on being steady, dependable, reliable, to just chuck out of the window her previous promises not to cut and run but go the full distance, yes, you could say it would do damage, but you think this woman campaigned for remain. She is now mrs brexit. She managed to get round that. History tells us winner takes all. If she holds an election and wins a big majority, dont expect many collea g u es majority, dont expect many colleagues to say, you should not have broken your promise. They will not care. It would provide clarity and certainty and provide her with that mandate and it would be the brexit election and she might argue, it enables me to go into negotiations, to go eyeball to eye ball negotiations, to go eyeball to eyeball with Michel Barnier and the others and say, i have the country behind me, i have won mandate, do not mess me. It strengthens her hand. Maybe she will go for it. We do not know, lets make that clear. We do not know what she will say. Some speculation that she could be resigning. If, if that were the case, what might she be resigning over . I cannot believe i am asking these questions but we are in the realms of speculation. Resignation, general election or military deployment, we are in. She looks as fit as a fiddle. She has been round and about, she has been an america, she has been in saudi arabia, turkey. Continually on her travels. Iam turkey. Continually on her travels. I am always amazed, physically, she is upfor i am always amazed, physically, she is up for it. We know she has type 1 diabetes and has to have two insulin jabs per day. Looking at her, she probably thrives on it. She seems to have grown in self confidence. She does not look ill to me. You do not know. Peoplesprivate health situation. From what i have seen she looks ok. What would happen, there would be a caretaker Prime Minister and then i imagine a leadership contest in the tory party, another one. Does that bring borisjohnson back into the frame . I have no idea. We are in the outer himalayas of speculation land. Technically it would be a leadership contest and then you would have to ask what mandate that person had. Could you have another tory leader without a selection . You are getting so far away from David Camerons election victory. What about the military deployment speculation . victory. What about the military deployment speculation . I think that is doubtful. If you look at conflicts where we might deploy. Syria, the government has been clear we are not putting boots on the ground. Parliament voted against air strikes in syria. Following the recent Cruise Missile attack on president assad, Michael Fannon and eve ryo ne president assad, Michael Fannon and everyone went out of their way to look for a political solution. I do not get a sense there is an appetite to be involved in a military solution. North korea is on The Other Side of the world and not what we would get involved with. Some sort of renewed operation against is in iraq . I do not know that would need a statement here, surely it would be a house of commons statement. Our colleague Laura Kuenssberg is saying one source, not confirmed, speculation that a general election will be called on june the 8th. Ok. That is quite conceivable. June the 8th, am i right in thinking it was the day of the referendum last year . No, that wasjune the referendum last year . No, that was june the 23rd. The referendum last year . No, that wasjune the 23rd. I am sorry, i thought there was something symbolic. That is possible. She cannot do it in time for the may elections. She could go for an early summer snap elections. She could go for an early summer snap election. Reuters are also saying that. We will find out soon also saying that. We will find out soon because she will be coming out. We will hear it from theresa may herself. Thanks, norman. Theresa may live on bbc news at 11 15am. Thanks for your company. Back tomorrow at 9am. The frost is melting away. There is an area of high pressure. Into western scotland big thick cloud for the eventually damp weather getting into the Western Isles and the highlands. Brightening up in Northern Ireland for a time. Temperatures inland reaching double figures for many areas. A little bit cool around some of the coastal areas with onshore winds. The cool night on the cards. There could be a few pockets of frost. Temperatures will plummet down 2 4, 5 in the coolest spots. This is potentially a damaging frost. A decent start to the day with sunshine. Turning cloudierfor northern the day with sunshine. Turning cloudier for Northern England and wales. Temperatures between 12 and 14 degrees. That is the weather. We are live in Downing Street, where the Prime Minister is due to make a significant announcement in the next 15 minutes. Theresa mays statement is unscheduled and number 10 havent said what she will say. Im joanna gosling, bringing you live coverage from the studio. We will bring you the statement as soon as we will bring you the statement as soon as it happens. One unconfirmed source soon as it happens. One unconfirmed source tells the bbc that theresa may is poised to announce a Snap General Election on june the may is poised to announce a Snap General Election onjune the 8th. Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news
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