Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to promote the availability of sacrohysteropexy as an alternative to hysterectomy in the NHS.

In January 2009, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published an interventional procedure guidance (IPG282) on the insertion of mesh uterine suspension sling (including sacrohysteropexy) for uterine prolapse repair.

The guidance found that the evidence on the safety and efficacy of the procedure was inadequate in quantity and recommends it should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent and audit or research.

Where uterine prolapse repair is needed, surgeons and patients should discuss the range of options, including sacrohysteropexy where it is clinically appropriate, in line with the NICE guidance.