Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the publication on 17 April of the national audit of patients who have undergone urologynaecological procedure for prolapse or stress urinary continence, including those where mesh, tape or equivalents were used, they now plan to suspend the use of pelvic mesh.

The audit Retrospective Review of Surgery for Urogynaecological Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence using Tape or Mesh was published by NHS Digital on 17 April 2018. Due to the importance of the issue, I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to seek the views of relevant National Health Service bodies, surgical societies, and patient groups on the implications of the statistics, and to report back within a month. The Government is open to further analyses where these could provide helpful insights. This will allow us to make an informed decision on the next steps we take.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA’s) current view is that from a regulatory perspective, based on all of the available evidence, the evidence does not support a restriction or ban of the use of these devices, except where stipulated in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. However, the MHRA and others have and will continue to keep the evidence under review, and will act as necessary to continue to ensure the safety of patients.