States, territories and private health services – transvaginal mesh

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The Service Model Framework for transvaginal mesh complications and removal includes a summary of services in each state and territory, where available. These details are also provided below. The details of private hospitals that provide these services are available from doctors who treat mesh complications and perform mesh removal.

NSW

NSW Health provides information through its website  at www.health.nsw.gov.au/patients/Pages/default.aspx

NSW Health specialist services are provided at:

  • John Hunter Hospital Phone: 02 4921 3600
  • Nepean Hospital Phone: 02 4734 4777 
  • Royal North Shore Hospital Phone: 02 9463 2352
  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Phone: 0436 946 835
  • St George Hospital Phone: 02 9113 2272 
  • Westmead Hospital Phone: 02 8890 7668

Arrangements are in place for referrals from patients outside of these Local Health Districts to the specialist clinics. Patients from rural and remote regions will be able to be seen at any of these specialist services. Services available at the hospitals listed above include: urogynaecology, ultrasound, pain services, pelvic floor physiotherapists, psychology, urology, and colorectal.

The updated NSW Safety Notice and recommendations for NSW Health facilities - Transvaginal mesh implants for Pelvic Organ (Vaginal) Prolapse

VIC

Information and links to important information such as credentialing and freedom of information resources can be found on the website: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/Transvaginal-mesh

Specialist multidisciplinary services are provided at:

  • Victorian mesh information and helpline 1800 55 6374 (1800 55 MESH)
  • Royal Women’s Hospital Phone: 03 8345 3143
  • Mercy Hospital for Women Phone: 03 8458 4500
  • Monash Health Phone: 03 9928 8588
  • Western Health Phone: 0481 908 118

Royal Women's Hospital, phone (03) 8345 3143: urogynaecology is the lead discipline, with services such as plastic surgery, urology and colorectal surgery also involved, depending on patient needs. Patients can also access pain physicians and physiotherapists at the Royal Women’s Hospital. 

Mercy Hospital for Women, phone (03) 8458 4500: a multi-disciplinary team provides services for affected women. Services include urogynaecology, urology, colorectal surgery, pain management and community linkage with psychiatric services.

Monash Health, phone (03) 9928 8588: the Pelvic Floor Unit leads care, in conjunction with physiotherapy, pain management, and where indicated, colorectal, urology and plastic surgery. Other specialised services at the hospital include psychology, a sexual and relationship difficulty clinic, and a continence nursing service.

Western Health, phone 0481 908 118: services include urogynaecology, urology, colorectal surgery, pain management and community linkage with psychiatric services. The lead discipline is urogynaecology with a multidisciplinary clinic involving urology, pelvic floor physiotherapy and continence nursing.

QLD

Queensland Health have established the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service, a holistic service with a team of specialists dedicated to treating, supporting and caring for women who have experienced complications from pelvic mesh.

The Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service, located at Varsity Lakes Day Hospital on the Gold Coast accepts referrals from general practitioners for women experiencing complications from pelvic mesh (also known as transvaginal mesh). The statewide interdisciplinary service has been co-designed by consumers and clinicians to ensure a patient-centric model of care is provided to women. Travel and accommodation subsidies are available for eligible women who need to travel more than 50kms from their home to attend the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service.

The Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service was developed to assist women who have experienced pelvic mesh-related complications, including women with chronic pelvic pain, mesh exposure, infection, bleeding, dyspareunia, incontinence, bladder and bowel perforation, difficulty sitting and walking.

A team of medical, nursing and allied health specialists - including physiotherapy, psychology and social work - offer comprehensive treatment and assessment within a mutually respectful and supportive environment. Expertise in surgery, continence care, chronic pain management and counselling is offered as required, to assist women in their activities of daily life and in their recovery.

The Service partners with each woman to develop a treatment and recovery plan that best suits individual needs. Surgery may be considered a part of the woman’s treatment plan, based on best practice and available evidence. Treatment and care options are transparently discussed between the care provider and the woman.

Patients attending the service are assessed and treated by members of the interdisciplinary team. Telehealth services for follow-up care are available for women unable to return to the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service.

When treatment is completed, the interdisciplinary team will transition the patient back to their local community where ongoing management and support will be coordinated through their primary care provider.

Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service referral forms and Clinical Prioritisation Criteria are available for general practitioners at www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/referrals/statewide-specialist-services/queensland-pelvic-mesh-service

Queensland Health also has a range of resources for women and consumers at www.qld.gov.au/health/services/specialists/pelvic-mesh-service/patient-resources

Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service contact details:

Website: www.qld.gov.au/health/services/specialists/pelvic-mesh-service

SA

SA Health has established a Consumer Support telephone line on 1800 66 MESH. The line operates 0900-1600 Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Consumer and GP Information, including Frequently Asked Questions related to pelvic mesh is available at: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/pelvicmesh

WA

In Western Australia, the King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary team-based approach for gynaecological pelvic mesh complications. Women with gynaecological mesh complications are offered access to the multidisciplinary team depending on their needs. The mesh complications clinic is incorporated within the Urogynaecology Clinic and staffed by: urogynaecologists, urologists, pain specialists, ultrasound specialists, clinical psychologists, women’s health and continence physiotherapists, specialist nurse, social workers, occupational therapists. Surgery, including mesh removal, is available. Surgery is offered on an individual basis as part of the multidisciplinary treatment plan.

Further information is available at: www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Pelvic-mesh or by contacting KEMH.UrogynaecologyClinic@health.wa.gov.au

TAS

Tasmania has a small number of public and private hospitals providing mesh implantation for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and for removal of mesh. Most patients access services through GP referral into a gynaecology clinic at one of the following hospitals

  • Royal Hobart Hospital - Phone: 03 6166 8308
  • North West Regional Hospital - Phone: 03 6493 6000
  • Launceston General Hospital - Phone: 03 6777 6777
  • Tasmanian Health Services support - Email: THS.alertsandrecalls@ths.tas.gov.au

Mesh implantation for SUI is available at all three hospitals. Mesh implantation for POP (with appropriate credentialing and ethics approval for a formal research trial) and removal of mesh is available at Royal Hobart Hospital and Launceston General Hospital.

The Royal Hobart Hospital has a full urogynaecology service, including services for urodynamics, advanced surgery (vaginal + laparoscopic mesh and native tissue), management of mesh exposure, pelvic physiotherapy, urogynaecology nurse and medical consultant. There are no sub-specialist urogynaecologists.

The Launceston General Hospital has a full specialist obstetrics and gynaecology service that offers both mesh insertion and removal. 

Complex cases are referred to Melbourne.

ACT

Canberra Health Services has established a dedicated multidisciplinary team-based service for ACT women experiencing complications that may be related to pelvic mesh. The team includes dedicated medical, nursing, pelvic physiotherapy and pain psychology staff.

Contact details are:

Patients requiring further investigations for potential mesh removal are referred by this service to the Urogynaecology Service at Westmead Hospital, Sydney.

NSW

NSW Health provides information through its website  at www.health.nsw.gov.au/patients/Pages/default.aspx

NSW Health specialist services are provided at:

  • John Hunter Hospital Phone: 02 4921 3600
  • Nepean Hospital Phone: 02 4734 4777 
  • Royal North Shore Hospital Phone: 02 9463 2352
  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Phone: 0436 946 835
  • St George Hospital Phone: 02 9113 2272 
  • Westmead Hospital Phone: 02 8890 7668

Arrangements are in place for referrals from patients outside of these Local Health Districts to the specialist clinics. Patients from rural and remote regions will be able to be seen at any of these specialist services. Services available at the hospitals listed above include: urogynaecology, ultrasound, pain services, pelvic floor physiotherapists, psychology, urology, and colorectal.

The updated NSW Safety Notice and recommendations for NSW Health facilities - Transvaginal mesh implants for Pelvic Organ (Vaginal) Prolapse

VIC

Information and links to important information such as credentialing and freedom of information resources can be found on the website: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/Transvaginal-mesh

Specialist multidisciplinary services are provided at:

  • Victorian mesh information and helpline 1800 55 6374 (1800 55 MESH)
  • Royal Women’s Hospital Phone: 03 8345 3143
  • Mercy Hospital for Women Phone: 03 8458 4500
  • Monash Health Phone: 03 9928 8588
  • Western Health Phone: 0481 908 118

Royal Women's Hospital, phone (03) 8345 3143: urogynaecology is the lead discipline, with services such as plastic surgery, urology and colorectal surgery also involved, depending on patient needs. Patients can also access pain physicians and physiotherapists at the Royal Women’s Hospital. 

Mercy Hospital for Women, phone (03) 8458 4500: a multi-disciplinary team provides services for affected women. Services include urogynaecology, urology, colorectal surgery, pain management and community linkage with psychiatric services.

Monash Health, phone (03) 9928 8588: the Pelvic Floor Unit leads care, in conjunction with physiotherapy, pain management, and where indicated, colorectal, urology and plastic surgery. Other specialised services at the hospital include psychology, a sexual and relationship difficulty clinic, and a continence nursing service.

Western Health, phone 0481 908 118: services include urogynaecology, urology, colorectal surgery, pain management and community linkage with psychiatric services. The lead discipline is urogynaecology with a multidisciplinary clinic involving urology, pelvic floor physiotherapy and continence nursing.

QLD

Queensland Health have established the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service, a holistic service with a team of specialists dedicated to treating, supporting and caring for women who have experienced complications from pelvic mesh.

The Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service, located at Varsity Lakes Day Hospital on the Gold Coast accepts referrals from general practitioners for women experiencing complications from pelvic mesh (also known as transvaginal mesh). The statewide interdisciplinary service has been co-designed by consumers and clinicians to ensure a patient-centric model of care is provided to women. Travel and accommodation subsidies are available for eligible women who need to travel more than 50kms from their home to attend the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service.

The Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service was developed to assist women who have experienced pelvic mesh-related complications, including women with chronic pelvic pain, mesh exposure, infection, bleeding, dyspareunia, incontinence, bladder and bowel perforation, difficulty sitting and walking.

A team of medical, nursing and allied health specialists - including physiotherapy, psychology and social work - offer comprehensive treatment and assessment within a mutually respectful and supportive environment. Expertise in surgery, continence care, chronic pain management and counselling is offered as required, to assist women in their activities of daily life and in their recovery.

The Service partners with each woman to develop a treatment and recovery plan that best suits individual needs. Surgery may be considered a part of the woman’s treatment plan, based on best practice and available evidence. Treatment and care options are transparently discussed between the care provider and the woman.

Patients attending the service are assessed and treated by members of the interdisciplinary team. Telehealth services for follow-up care are available for women unable to return to the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service.

When treatment is completed, the interdisciplinary team will transition the patient back to their local community where ongoing management and support will be coordinated through their primary care provider.

Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service referral forms and Clinical Prioritisation Criteria are available for general practitioners at www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/referrals/statewide-specialist-services/queensland-pelvic-mesh-service

Queensland Health also has a range of resources for women and consumers at www.qld.gov.au/health/services/specialists/pelvic-mesh-service/patient-resources

Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service contact details:

Website: www.qld.gov.au/health/services/specialists/pelvic-mesh-service

SA

SA Health has established a Consumer Support telephone line on 1800 66 MESH. The line operates 0900-1600 Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Consumer and GP Information, including Frequently Asked Questions related to pelvic mesh is available at: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/pelvicmesh

WA

In Western Australia, the King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary team-based approach for gynaecological pelvic mesh complications. Women with gynaecological mesh complications are offered access to the multidisciplinary team depending on their needs. The mesh complications clinic is incorporated within the Urogynaecology Clinic and staffed by: urogynaecologists, urologists, pain specialists, ultrasound specialists, clinical psychologists, women’s health and continence physiotherapists, specialist nurse, social workers, occupational therapists. Surgery, including mesh removal, is available. Surgery is offered on an individual basis as part of the multidisciplinary treatment plan.

Further information is available at: www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Pelvic-mesh or by contacting KEMH.UrogynaecologyClinic@health.wa.gov.au

TAS

Tasmania has a small number of public and private hospitals providing mesh implantation for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and for removal of mesh. Most patients access services through GP referral into a gynaecology clinic at one of the following hospitals

  • Royal Hobart Hospital - Phone: 03 6166 8308
  • North West Regional Hospital - Phone: 03 6493 6000
  • Launceston General Hospital - Phone: 03 6777 6777
  • Tasmanian Health Services support - Email: THS.alertsandrecalls@ths.tas.gov.au

Mesh implantation for SUI is available at all three hospitals. Mesh implantation for POP (with appropriate credentialing and ethics approval for a formal research trial) and removal of mesh is available at Royal Hobart Hospital and Launceston General Hospital.

The Royal Hobart Hospital has a full urogynaecology service, including services for urodynamics, advanced surgery (vaginal + laparoscopic mesh and native tissue), management of mesh exposure, pelvic physiotherapy, urogynaecology nurse and medical consultant. There are no sub-specialist urogynaecologists.

The Launceston General Hospital has a full specialist obstetrics and gynaecology service that offers both mesh insertion and removal. 

Complex cases are referred to Melbourne.

ACT

Canberra Health Services has established a dedicated multidisciplinary team-based service for ACT women experiencing complications that may be related to pelvic mesh. The team includes dedicated medical, nursing, pelvic physiotherapy and pain psychology staff.

Contact details are:

Patients requiring further investigations for potential mesh removal are referred by this service to the Urogynaecology Service at Westmead Hospital, Sydney.

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