THOUSANDS more women deserve compensation for complications from vaginal mesh implants, a leading campaigner said today.

Sling the Mesh founder Kath Sansom welcomed the news that more than 100 women in England were given payouts for a group settlement.

But she said this was only a “tiny fraction” of women who deserve compensation.

Transvaginal mesh (TVM) implants were used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence after childbirth.

In some cases, they have caused debilitating harm to women, including infection, pelvic pain, difficulty urinating, pain during sex and incontinence.

Ms Sansom said the campaign group hears devastating stories about women who sought care for bladder leaks or prolapse but have ended up with chronic pain and infections.

“Seven in 10 have lost their sex lives because of the pain, they’ve lost jobs, hobbies, marriages, and, as a result, the impact on their mental health and wellbeing is terrible,” she told BBC Breakfast.

“These aren’t small complications, they are life-changing, and in many cases, they’re often irreversible.

“We all went for this surgery, trusting our doctors, we were innocent players in this whole story, and it feels desperately unfair that we’re having to fight to be financially compensated for our many losses.”

Ms Sansom has called for more stringent patient safety measures, including a device database for every implanted medical device and more transparency over payments made to the health sector from industry.

Earlier this year a report by the Patient Safety Commissioner said there is a “clear case for redress” for thousands of women and children affected by sodium valproate and vaginal mesh implants.

The government said it is “carefully considering” its recommendations.