A GOVERNMENT review into TVT operations - which have left women crippled by 'plastic shrapnel' - has been welcomed by a Poole solicitor who is representing women fighting for compensation.

Medical negligence specialist Lydia Barnett said the government’s review into Tension-Free Vaginal Tape (TVT) surgery - intended to help women suffering from urinary stress incontinence after childbirth - was 'long overdue'.

“We want to see a complete ban on TVT mesh because surgery can cause life-changing injuries,” she said. “It’s like plastic shrapnel. The mesh is made from the same material as plastic bottles and a lot of the ladies are experiencing severe neurological pain."

She said some women were having difficulty walking, others are now in wheelchairs and she has seen 'dozens of new cases' in the last few months as news of the 'national scandal' spreads.

"Failed TVT surgery is difficult to treat," she said. "Repair procedures may not work because surgeons cannot always remove all the broken shards of mesh."

Lydia, who is a partner at the Coles Miller practice, encountered her first case back in 2012 before TVT hit the headlines. As more women contacted her and she realised that a major national scandal was about to break.

One of her clients, a mother from Kent, agreed to a compensation settlement of £60,000, although damages in cases which involve loss of earnings can run to £100,000.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced this week that Baroness Julia Cumberlege will lead a review into patient concerns about vaginal mesh, as well as hormone pregnancy test drug Primodos.

The review will investigate how the NHS responds to safety concerns raised by patients about medicines or medical devices. It will also consider whether any further action is required, including whether a full investigation or a public inquiry is necessary.