News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire
  • Investigations
  • News
  • Crime
  • Your Views
No Result
View All Result
  • TRENDING:
  • Peterborough
  • Cambridge
  • Huntingdon
  • March
  • Wisbech
  • Ely
  • Fenland
  • Whittlesey
  • St Ives
Monday, October 20, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire
  • Investigations
  • News
  • Crime
  • Your Views
No Result
View All Result
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire
Support Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Investigations
  • News
  • Crime
  • Your Views
Home News

Cambridgeshire health campaigner Kath Sansom wins national award

Sling The Mesh founder honoured by HealthSense UK for groundbreaking patient advocacy

John Elworthy by John Elworthy
3:14pm, October 20 2025
in News
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - House of Lords suffragette rally on Feb 6, 2018: Kath Samson at a rally at the foot of Winston Churchill before going into the House of Lords to hear a question by Lord Phillip Hunt. PHOTO: Caroline Briggs 

House of Lords suffragette rally on Feb 6, 2018: Kath Samson at a rally at the foot of Winston Churchill before going into the House of Lords to hear a question by Lord Phillip Hunt. PHOTO: Caroline Briggs 

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Kath Sansom, founder of the patient campaign group Sling The Mesh, is to receiveone of the country’s most prestigious health awards — the HealthSense UK Annual Award — marking a rare honour for someone outside academic or medical institutions.

The award, to be presented on Wednesday 22 October at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to evidence-based medicine, ethical healthcare practice, or public understanding of medical issues.

Since its launch in 1993, the accolade has typically gone to senior academics, clinicians, and health researchers — making Sansom’s recognition an exceptional achievement for a grassroots campaigner.

Sansom, of March, Cambridgeshire, founded Sling The Mesh in 2015 after uncovering widespread complications linked to surgical mesh implants, commonly used to treat incontinence, prolapse, and hernia repairs.

House of Lords suffragette rally on Feb 6, 2018: Kath Samson at a rally at the foot of Winston Churchill before going into the House of Lords to hear a question by Lord Phillip Hunt. PHOTO: Caroline Briggs
House of Lords suffragette rally on Feb 6, 2018: Kath Samson at a rally at the foot of Winston Churchill before going into the House of Lords to hear a question by Lord Phillip Hunt. PHOTO: Caroline Briggs

The campaign grew rapidly into a powerful national movement, uniting thousands of people — mostly women — who had experienced life-changing injuries from mesh devices made of polypropylene plastic.

Under Sansom’s leadership, the campaign has achieved a series of significant milestones in patient safety and medical regulation.

Among them are the suspension of one type of mesh implant, the reclassification of surgical mesh from a Class IIb to the highest-risk Class III device, and the creation of the Medical Devices Outcomes Registry, which tracks patients with implants to monitor long-term safety.

The group’s advocacy also helped inspire the First Do No Harm report, which called for compensation for mesh-injured women and greater transparency across the health sector.

Another great @cambstimes today- this time focusing on colleague Kath Sansom's inspiring campaign pic.twitter.com/04sdE8Kqyl

— John Elworthy (@johnelworthy) January 29, 2016

Their lobbying contributed to proposed “Sunshine legislation,” aimed at disclosing financial relationships between healthcare professionals and industry, as well as the establishment of the NHS Pelvic Floor Registry to audit outcomes of procedures for pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence.

Campaigners from Cambridgeshire based Sling The Mesh are demanding urgent action to provide compensation for the women and families whose lives have been irreparably damaged.
Campaigners from Cambridgeshire based Sling The Mesh are demanding urgent action to provide compensation for the women and families whose lives have been irreparably damaged.

Sansom said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this award. It’s powerful recognition that lived experience, investigative work, people’s stories, and grassroots advocacy can drive meaningful change.

Advertisements
canopyuk.com in-article
Advertisement

“I want to especially acknowledge the many people who’ve supported the campaign behind the scenes — most notably Ruth MacLeod, whose expertise in interpreting flawed scientific research and tireless work in policy have been instrumental in achieving real progress.”

March Cambridgeshire mum wins 2024 Tenacious Awards for mesh campaign

HealthSense UK praised Sansom’s dedication to improving patient safety, describing her as a “courageous voice for transparency and reform in healthcare.”

The organisation, which promotes evidence-based medicine and challenges pseudoscience, rarely gives its annual award to campaigners outside professional health circles.

Sansom’s work has been widely recognised for challenging the status quo — from critiquing flawed scientific literature to exposing medical misogyny and communicating complex medical issues in plain, accessible language.

Her win not only highlights the growing power of patient advocacy but also signals a shift in how lived experience is valued within healthcare reform.

News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire -
Sling the Mesh is a campaign raising awareness of the potential risks associated with vaginal and rectal mesh surgery. The campaign was launched in 2015 by journalist Kath Sansom

As Sansom put it, “This award shows that the voices of patients can, and should, shape the future of medicine.”

Sling The Mesh victims ‘compensate us NOW’ plea to Government

She added, modestly, “The recognition is typically reserved for career professionals and globally renowned academics in the field of health research and advocacy.

Next part of the campaign by my brilliant, inspirational and truly remarkable colleague and friend Kath Sansom. Go get 'em Kath https://t.co/AZb3BlR5jK

— John Elworthy (@johnelworthy) April 17, 2017

“Not a former regional journalist (Eastern Daily Press and Cambs Times / Ely Standard/ LynnNews) and children’s photographer!”

www.slingthemesh.co.uk

 

Tags: Helath Sense UKHomepagekath sansommarchsling the mesh
ShareTweetSend
Next Post
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - The East of England Showground has been a cornerstone of Peterborough’s community life for decades. Originally established by the East of England Agricultural Society, itself formed in 1970 from the merger of several historic agricultural societies, the showground became the permanent home for the annual East of England Show. PHOTO: Terry Harris

Peterborough showground housing plans face recommendation for refusal

News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Aerial view from Chatteris, showing the A142 running along the southern boundary of the main reservoir site, and the A141 at the site’s western boundary. For illustrative purposes only

Fens Reservoir: construction could bring 1,400 extra vehicles a day

Help us by Donating

Latest News

News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Aerial view from Chatteris, showing the A142 running along the southern boundary of the main reservoir site, and the A141 at the site’s western boundary. For illustrative purposes only
News

Fens Reservoir: construction could bring 1,400 extra vehicles a day

October 20, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - The East of England Showground has been a cornerstone of Peterborough’s community life for decades. Originally established by the East of England Agricultural Society, itself formed in 1970 from the merger of several historic agricultural societies, the showground became the permanent home for the annual East of England Show. PHOTO: Terry Harris
News

Peterborough showground housing plans face recommendation for refusal

October 20, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - House of Lords suffragette rally on Feb 6, 2018: Kath Samson at a rally at the foot of Winston Churchill before going into the House of Lords to hear a question by Lord Phillip Hunt. PHOTO: Caroline Briggs 
News

Cambridgeshire health campaigner Kath Sansom wins national award

October 20, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Images of the Comberton property before and after renovation
News

75 empty homes brought back to life across South Cambridgeshire

October 17, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - A Cambridgeshire road safety campaigner has accused the county council of unfairly neglecting rural areas after a car towing a caravan was forced to uncouple on the approach to Stonea Bridge — a notorious blackspot with a 50mph speed limit that has not been reduced for decades.
Cambridgeshire County Council

Caravan stuck at Stonea Bridge sparks row over ‘unfair’ road safety funding

October 17, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Ryan Coogan (left) Reform organiser for Cambridgeshire and (right) Farcet and Yaxley county councillor Des Watt who has quit the party and is now an independent.
Exclusive

Reform rocked as Cambridgeshire councillor quietly quits the party

October 18, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - The city’s new digital gateway for culture, heritage and events — discoverpeterborough.co.uk — has been launched, and Peterborough has officially established its new independent Destination Management Organisation (DMO), the Peterborough Tourist Board, chaired by Andrew Pakes MP
News

Discover Peterborough: new independent tourist board to lead the city’s visitor economy

October 16, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - At a meeting of Full Council tonight (Wednesday), Councillor Shabina Qayyum said she was “calling out” the comments made online and via email about Cabinet member for finance and corporate governance, Councillor Mohammed Jamil.
News

Peterborough Council leader vows zero tolerance after racist threats to councillor

October 15, 2025
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Ryan Coogan (left) Reform organiser for Cambridgeshire and (right) Farcet and Yaxley county councillor Des Watt who has quit the party and is now an independent.

Reform rocked as Cambridgeshire councillor quietly quits the party

October 18, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Looking south west across the application site with the drainage ditch along the northern boundary visible where the crop colour changes

Whittlesey residents outraged as Fenland council approves 249-home development

October 15, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - At a full council meeting on (October 15), members are expected to approve the appointment of solicitor Graham Kitchen as the authority’s new interim Monitoring Officer from 1 November 2025.

Double departure rocks Peterborough City Council as two top legal chiefs move on

October 15, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Images of the Comberton property before and after renovation

75 empty homes brought back to life across South Cambridgeshire

October 17, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Aerial view from Chatteris, showing the A142 running along the southern boundary of the main reservoir site, and the A141 at the site’s western boundary. For illustrative purposes only

Fens Reservoir: construction could bring 1,400 extra vehicles a day

0
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - The East of England Showground has been a cornerstone of Peterborough’s community life for decades. Originally established by the East of England Agricultural Society, itself formed in 1970 from the merger of several historic agricultural societies, the showground became the permanent home for the annual East of England Show. PHOTO: Terry Harris

Peterborough showground housing plans face recommendation for refusal

0
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - House of Lords suffragette rally on Feb 6, 2018: Kath Samson at a rally at the foot of Winston Churchill before going into the House of Lords to hear a question by Lord Phillip Hunt. PHOTO: Caroline Briggs 

Cambridgeshire health campaigner Kath Sansom wins national award

0
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Images of the Comberton property before and after renovation

75 empty homes brought back to life across South Cambridgeshire

0
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Aerial view from Chatteris, showing the A142 running along the southern boundary of the main reservoir site, and the A141 at the site’s western boundary. For illustrative purposes only

Fens Reservoir: construction could bring 1,400 extra vehicles a day

October 20, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - The East of England Showground has been a cornerstone of Peterborough’s community life for decades. Originally established by the East of England Agricultural Society, itself formed in 1970 from the merger of several historic agricultural societies, the showground became the permanent home for the annual East of England Show. PHOTO: Terry Harris

Peterborough showground housing plans face recommendation for refusal

October 20, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - House of Lords suffragette rally on Feb 6, 2018: Kath Samson at a rally at the foot of Winston Churchill before going into the House of Lords to hear a question by Lord Phillip Hunt. PHOTO: Caroline Briggs 

Cambridgeshire health campaigner Kath Sansom wins national award

October 20, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Images of the Comberton property before and after renovation

75 empty homes brought back to life across South Cambridgeshire

October 17, 2025

Follow us on Twitter

More News

News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Looking south west across the application site with the drainage ditch along the northern boundary visible where the crop colour changes
Fenland District Council

Whittlesey residents outraged as Fenland council approves 249-home development

October 15, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - January 2020: A new housing development by Mendesham Homes in Stanground was named in memory of the stable owner who devoted her life to teaching children how to ride horses. Peggy Fishpool used to run the stables on the land which has now been developed to provide 24 two and three-bedroom affordable homes and 6 one-bedroom apartments.
News

Peterborough City Council to exit Medesham Homes: has it lost out on its housing venture?

October 15, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Mayor Paul Bristow: “We should aspire to be the UK’s fastest growing local economy outside the capital. Growth attracts investment, creates high-skilled jobs and helps fund the infrastructure we need for a stronger, fairer, faster-growing economy. Growth also brings the healthier, wealthier and happier Cambridgeshire and Peterborough we all want to see.”
News

Local growth plan sets Cambridgeshire & Peterborough on path to become Europe’s Silicon Valley

October 15, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - At a full council meeting on (October 15), members are expected to approve the appointment of solicitor Graham Kitchen as the authority’s new interim Monitoring Officer from 1 November 2025.
News

Double departure rocks Peterborough City Council as two top legal chiefs move on

October 15, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire - Dennis Finbow, 77, a former parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes in Dogsthorpe, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (10 October), where the judge added 11 years to the sentence he is already serving for similar offences. PHOTO: Terry Harris
News

Former Peterborough paedophile priest jailed for further child sex offences after calling allegations ‘nonsense’

October 14, 2025
News for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire -
Peterborough City Council

Showground housing development in Peterborough faces refusal

October 13, 2025
  • News
  • Local Council
  • Investigations
  • Things To Do
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© COPYRIGHT - UNIT 2 FENGATE TRADEPARK PETERBOROUGH PE15XB

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 360 Examples
  • About
  • Advertise with us
  • ARTICLE FOOTER NOT FOR PUBLICATION
  • Basket
  • Beer Festival VR 360
  • Buy Adspace
  • Cambridgeshire
  • Cancel donation
  • Cathedral Example 360
  • Cathedral Plan
  • Checkout
  • Checkout
  • Civic Dash
  • Complaints
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • cookie-policy
  • crm
  • Elementor #420
  • Hide Ads for Premium Members
  • Home
    • CambsNews Live
  • Latest News
  • Media Consent Form
  • Memorial Garden Example
  • My Account
  • My account
  • Notices
  • Notices Form
  • Privacy Policy
  • PU test
  • Sample Page
  • Sample Page
  • Shop
  • SiteMap
  • Submit Your News
  • Support our work.
  • test2
  • Thank you for your donation
  • Upload your ads

© COPYRIGHT - UNIT 2 FENGATE TRADEPARK PETERBOROUGH PE15XB