A Royston woman who was ‘stopped in her tracks’ by the pain of a medical procedure which leaves some patients in a wheelchair says she is over the moon the issue has been highlighted in parliament.

Real life stories of how women have gone from being healthy and active to suffering terrible pain were shared at the Westminster summit on the devastating consequences of TVT mesh surgery.

The issue was brought to the attention of MPs by campaign group Sling The Mesh, launched last year by journalist Kath Sansom.

Anne Cook from Royston, who bravely shared her story in order to prevent others from suffering the same fate, said: “I am so pleased that the issue is being highlighted in parliament so that hopefully more women are aware of the risks involved with mesh slings.

“My mesh pain, problems that I have suffered, medication that I still have to take for the pain I am left with and the need for two further corrective surgeries must have cost the NHS a fortune. Such great risks are not worth it.”

Ten action points were outlined at the meeting, as part of a pledge to look at problems with the NHS operation – which is used to treat incontinence, often caused by childbirth.

The operation involves putting a mesh tape made of the same plastic used in drinks bottles under the urethra to keep it in place. After six weeks the mesh knits itself into live tissue.

Issues discussed at the summit included the need for better information on the NHS website, the creation of a national register to track the number of women with mesh implant problems – figures currently rely on women reporting it themselves – and the possibility of upping the device to a higher risk category so it needs stricter testing.

North East Cambs MP Steve Barclay spearheaded the parliamentary meeting.

He said: “This is not about party politics – this is about getting the right care for women.

“Kath deserves huge credit for the work she has done to raise awareness of the risks involved when vaginal mesh implants go wrong and, following my meeting with Professor Keith Willett in the summer at the House of Commons, it was great this time to have the benefit of Kath’s input and first-hand experience.”