Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence plans to publish updated guidance on the eight types of hernia mesh.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Topics for new or updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are considered through the NICE prioritisation process. Decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by an integrated, cross-organisational prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer. NICE’s prioritisation board is considering the use of hernia mesh in the treatment of ventral and inguinal hernias as a potential topic for guidance, and a decision will be taken in due course.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the outcome was of the MHRA rectopexy review.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
At the end of 2024, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) completed its’ first stage review into the use of mesh in rectopexy procedures, which involved a comprehensive review of the mesh products available in Great Britian’s market, and a patient survey which was conducted in October 2024. As part of the review, the agency conducted a thorough evaluation of manufacturer data, including assessing what products are indicated for rectopexy or may be used for this purpose. Evaluation of the literature was undertaken to understand the range of mesh products used for rectopexy procedures, and this noted that the range of mesh used in patients were wider than those ‘indicated’ by manufacturers.
The survey identified that a small majority of patients experienced worsening symptoms after their rectopexy procedure, usually within the first-year post-surgery. The survey also indicated that there was relatively low awareness of the Yellow Card adverse incident reporting scheme among responders.
In December 2024 the MHRA presented a series of recommendations to the Interim Devices Work Group (IDWG) to address the issues identified in the review. These recommendations were endorsed by the group as documented in the meeting minutes, which are available at the following link:
The MHRA is currently working to implement the recommendations agreed by the IDWG. These recommendations include, for example, exploring what broader work can be conducted across the regulatory and healthcare environment and with manufacturers to address the off-label use of mesh products and the associated risks to patient safety. This project will also involve engagement with patient and healthcare stakeholder groups to bring about greater awareness of the issues. The MHRA expects the engagement to begin in spring 2026. There is also work currently ongoing in parallel, which will aid in addressing the recommendations. This includes the application of the new Post-market Surveillance Regulations for medical devices placed in Great Britian’s market, which came into force on the 16 June 2025 and enhances both the manufacturers' and the MHRA’s capacity to detect and monitor safety issues.
The MHRA continues to work with colleagues from across the health sector and international regulators, to monitor and examine evidence as it becomes available. The MHRA is committed to helping address the serious concerns raised by patients who have experienced complications and will take further action as appropriate to protect public health.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2025 to Question 65738 on Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder, if he will make interim payments to valproate families following the end of the pilot project.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS England-commissioned Fetal Exposure to Medicine Pilot project covers assessment, expert advice, and treatment planning for people impacted by sodium valproate and other anti-seizure medications.
On the question of interim payments to valproate families, the Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, including a recommendation for a two-stage financial redress scheme, comprising of an interim scheme and a main scheme.
This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments, including the Cabinet Office. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if there is a Hospital Episode Statistics code used to record instances of mesh used for rectopexy.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The latest National Clinical Coding Standards, code OPCS-4 2025, which are used in the Hospital Episode Statistics dataset to capture procedure information, includes four codes for use where a procedure concerns the insertion or removal of a mesh. These should be combined with other treatment codes to indicate where a mesh was used for a procedure, including for rectopexy procedures. The following table shows the relevant procedures and their coding:
Procedure | Procedure code | |
Rectopexy, abdominal posterior resection | Without mesh | H35.3 H10.- (if the sigmoid is resected) |
With mesh | H35.2 Y28.1-Y28.4 H10.- (if the sigmoid is resected) | |
Rectopexy, ventral mesh, which may also be described as anteior rectopexy with mesh or VMR | Open | H35.5 Y28.1-Y28.4 |
Laparoscopic | H35.5 Y75.- Y28.1-Y28.4 | |
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with industry stakeholders on the pricing strategies of (a) alcohol-free drinks and (b) alcoholic beverages.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Government has committed to tackling harmful levels of alcohol consumption through exploring options to encourage consumers to reduce their alcohol intake by substituting standard strength drinks with no- and low-alcohol alternatives. One of the first steps will be to explore raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, aligning with international standards, to support the growth of the sector and provide clarity to consumers and producers.
At the same time, we will explore measures to regulate access to no- and low-alcohol products in line with other alcoholic beverages, including prohibiting sales to individuals under the age of 18 years old.
Manufacturers, retailers, and industry stakeholders have a key role to play in working with the Government to improve the health of the nation. Ministers and officials regularly engage with these groups when developing policy.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with (a) manufacturers and (b) retailers on improving the affordability of alcohol-free alternatives.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Government has committed to tackling harmful levels of alcohol consumption through exploring options to encourage consumers to reduce their alcohol intake by substituting standard strength drinks with no- and low-alcohol alternatives. One of the first steps will be to explore raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, aligning with international standards, to support the growth of the sector and provide clarity to consumers and producers.
At the same time, we will explore measures to regulate access to no- and low-alcohol products in line with other alcoholic beverages, including prohibiting sales to individuals under the age of 18 years old.
Manufacturers, retailers, and industry stakeholders have a key role to play in working with the Government to improve the health of the nation. Ministers and officials regularly engage with these groups when developing policy.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 63541 on Autism: Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder, if she will take steps to collate this information centrally.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Research already exists that shows evidence of an increased risk for children of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, when exposed to Valproate during pregnancy. This includes the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s publication, Valproate: review of safety data and expert advice on management of risks.
As this link is already identified in the evidence and research available, NHS England has no plans to collate further information about the number of children with autism also diagnosed with foetal valproate syndrome.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of appointing a Government lead to establish a strategic mission for (a) rare and (b) less survivable cancers.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so more patients survive, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system
The Government supports Scott Arthur’s Private Members Bill on rare cancers. The bill will make it easier for clinical trials into rare cancers to take place in England by ensuring the patient population can be easily contacted by researchers. The Government is committed to backing innovative clinical research ecosystem in the United Kingdom so that British patients can be among the first to benefit as we make the NHS fit for the future.
Finally, the National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for patients with rare cancers, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the role of the Patient Safety Commissioner is now going to be hosted within the MHRA; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of this on her ability to advocate for MHRA reform.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Dr Dash’s review of patient safety across the health and care landscape was published in July 2025. The review sets out a broad aim to streamline, simplify, and consolidate functions across the patient safety landscape. Dr Dash made nine recommendations which the Government has accepted in full and fed into the 10-Year Health Plan.
The review specifically recommends that the patient safety commissioner is hosted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The office of the patient safety commissioner remains accountable to the Department, as it is now.
The Patient Safety Commissioner will play an important role in holding the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to account for its work on patient safety and in ensuring that patient safety and the voice of patients remains a core priority in the agency’s work.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders also have a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. Information about the number of children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome is not collected centrally.