Hysteroscopy: Pain

(asked on 10th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has to update Quality Standard 2 in QS47 on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding to state that all women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy should be offered pain relief, in line with Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidance.


Answered by
Edward Argar Portrait
Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This question was answered on 21st February 2022

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for maintaining its published guidelines and quality standards.

NICE quality standards draw on existing NICE guidelines or NICE-accredited guidance and describe high-priority areas for quality improvement in a defined care or service area. NICE’s guideline on the assessment and management of heavy menstrual bleeding recommends that women are advised to take pain relief before hysteroscopy and have the option of hysteroscopy under general or regional anaesthesia. This is in line with recommendations made by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

NICE currently has no plans to update or review its quality standard or guideline on heavy menstrual bleeding. NICE maintains close surveillance of new evidence that may affect its published guidance, and would consult on proposed changes if significant new evidence were to emerge.

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