Miss Sohier El-Neil

Written by a NHS patient at University College Hospital

I initially wrote a highly positive review for this doctor, believing like other women that her intentions to help mesh injured women were genuine and that she was the most highly skilled doctor at mesh removal in the UK. However, subsequent events led me to ask 'I Want Great Care' to remove that review. I write this as a warning to women with TVTO/ TOT/obturator mesh particularly, as my experience with this surgeon ended badly and is not a one-off. At my first consultation with Miss Elneil, I was very clear to ask her if she could remove an obturator mesh in full, as my mesh-implanting surgeon had forewarned me that a partial mesh removal would unlikely relieve my obturator nerve pain. Miss Elneil assured me that she could, advising that it would take 2 surgeries: 1. to remove the mesh behind the vagina, and 2 groin dissection. After over 4 years in her care and 2 surgeries to remove my obturator mesh I was told by Miss Elneil herself that 'all the mesh' had been removed. However, as my health continued to deteriorate, I was advised by a treating consultant at a different hospital to have scans to check if any mesh remained. I found out to my horror that there was still 1-2 cm mesh left in either side of the vaginal anterior walls and significant scar tissue in the left and right obturators, suggesting a large amount of mesh left behind - in fact over 2/3rd of an average 22cm obturator mesh. Any surgeon who implanted mesh, including Miss Elneil, would know the original lengths of mesh implants and roughly how much they would cut off to customise the mesh implant to each patient's body, and yet this information was never shared with me by Miss Elneil or any members of her team, so I had no idea how much mesh to expect to be removed. I was regularly told polypropylene mesh shrank, which I later confirmed with a plastics expert not to be true. When I spoke to The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review team about the shocking situation I found myself in, I was informed by the team that they had received an avalanche of reports from mesh-injured women reporting that they had found out they had received a partial mesh removal and not the full removal they had been expecting. In response to this, the IMMDSR team published warnings about partial mesh removals in 2019 and 2020 on their website and reported the situation to the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock. I went on to have the remaining mesh removed in the States, so have the evidence that I was deceived. The GMC is investigating a number of complaints about several mesh removal surgeons, who have similarly informed patients they have removed all the mesh, when this is not the truth. However, this route may not lead to the justice patients are seeking, as self-regulation of the medical profession is heavily flawed. Most mesh centres are located at big gun university medical teaching hospitals, with big gun executives who don't want to expose what is negligent, if not criminal activity, going on right under their noses and they did nothing to stop it, with multiple clinicians in the know performing a perfect example of the 'stand by effect' watching the deceit and harm being carried out in plain sight. It's also not the first time my contemporaneous medical records have been tampered with. With the GMC taking over 3 years to investigate a case, this provides doctors with a very long time to think about how to discredit a patient's testimony and make 'additional clarifications' to medical notes.

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Written by a NHS patient at University College Hospital

Ms ElNeil fixed a fistula for me after a difficult childbirth. I had 3 surgeries prior to seeing Ms. ElNeil that failed and were immensely painful. Ms ElNeil surgery fixed my issue and the post-procedure/recovery was painless. Thank you for what you do.

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Written by a NHS patient at University College Hospital

Miss El-Neil is the most amazing consultant you could ever wish for. She is so kind, caring and understanding. Miss El-Neil listens to what your saying and is very empathetic to your needs and concerns. I feel so safe in her hands and trust her completely she really cares about her patients and the work she does. Her knowledge and continuous development ensures that she is top of her game. Thank you for your wonderful care and leadership at the Mesh Centre. At last someone is listening and helping people who are suffering from mesh implants. Brenda Channon

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Written by a private patient at The Private Clinic - Harley Street London

After initial consultation I was advised I had a grade 3 cystocele but that I needed a diagnostic laproscopy to see what else was happening with one of her colleagues. The day arrived after so much confusion regarding payment to the hospital. Her colleague I never saw I have no idea if there was another person with Ms Elniel. I was hurriedly discharged the next day saw no Dr's. Received a letter on supposed findings now cystocele is a much lower grade and other findings supposed from the colleague. To then receive another letter with another diagnosis! Still waiting a year later for the outcome of an MDT Extremely disappointed

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Written by a patient at University College Hospital

The appointment problems in a couple of reviews are very unfortunate but Miss Elneil is not to blame for admin problems. She is a wonderful, funny, kind and immensely skilled lady who I trusted absolutely from the start. She has transformed my life and I was overjoyed when she was named as health professional of the year by a national newspaper. She and her team are the very best.

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