Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to commission new guidelines from NICE in relation to hernia mesh.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not been asked to develop any new guidelines in relation to hernia mesh.

NICE has developed technology appraisal guidance on Laparoscopic surgery for inguinal hernia repair published on 22 September 2004. A copy of the guidance is attached. The guidance states that laparoscopic surgery is recommended as one of the treatment options for the repair of inguinal hernia, but it should only be performed by appropriately trained surgeons who regularly carry out the procedure. NICE reviewed the evidence in February 2016 and found no new evidence which would lead to a change in the existing recommendations. However, if NICE is notified of a significant change to the evidence base at any stage in the future, this could trigger a formal review proposal.