Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning vaginal mesh for (a) pelvic organ prolapse and (b) stress urinary incontinence; what steps his Department is taking to improve surgical training those procedures; and if he will make a statement.

The Government keeps the evidence under review and at this point in time takes the view that the evidence does not support a ban of the use of vaginal mesh devices. While the Government understands that some women have experienced serious complications, for many women the use of mesh has had positive outcomes.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has considered all evidence available, in the United Kingdom and worldwide. The MHRA’s view is that both the evidence and the greater proportion of the clinical community support the use of these devices as part of an appropriate treatment pathway where the associated benefits and risks are considered when treating the conditions of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. As with all medical devices, the MHRA continues to monitor relevant evidence as it becomes available.

The NHS England Mesh Working Group Interim Report (2015) recommended that the established hospital doctors’ appraisal systems in each hospital trust should be used to ensure surgeons undertaking mesh procedures are appropriately trained and current in their practice; adhere to clinical guidance; comply with national data submission requirements; and report complications. NHS Improvement has written to all trust Responsible Officers asking them to ensure this is implemented.