Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that publicly funded research into transvaginal mesh repair of anterior or posterior vaginal wall prolapse includes (a) details of patient selection, (b) long-term outcomes including complications, (c) type of mesh used, (d) method of fixation and (e) quality of life as recommended by NICE.

The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. The NIHR would expect researchers applying for funding through NIHR research programmes to be aware of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.