A new system has been designed to prevent surgical implant complications for patients.
The Waitemata DHB has developed a new system which will record and store the barcodes of implants used by surgeons.
Surgical mesh is a type of implant used to repair weakened structures with the aim of providing additional support, according to the Ministry of Health website.
It's used to treat stress urinary incontinence but many have experienced complications immediately after the operation.
Urologist, Dr Eva Fong, was part of the team who designed the system at Waitemata DHB and says it's important to track the implant.
"It will allow me to know what I've put into people and also if I go to take out something that someone else has put in at least I'll know what they put in because we have had problems in the past with loss of paper records," she said.
Renata Schutte, a mesh survivor says having this new barcode information on her medical records could have saved her a lot of pain and suffering.
"I went for an MRI to check that my brain was ok, I saw rheumatologists, numerous specialists, many visits to the GP over a period of two years and nobody knew what was wrong with me."
Last year, the Ministry of Health released a report responding to over 600 New Zealanders harmed by mesh. One of the findings was that an implant tracking system was required.
Campaigner and co-founder of Mesh Down Under Charlotte Korte says it's fantastic, but should have happened years ago.
"I think it's really important that the Ministry of Health and the Government look at rolling this out nationally. It needs to be in all DHBs and incorporated into the private sector and I really feel strongly about that."
