Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects to receive the finalised report of the study into mesh complication surgery by the National Institute for Health and Care Research study.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research delivery arm of the Department, funds and supports a range of research to support women’s health conditions, including pelvic organ prolapse.

In May 2023 the NIHR commissioned a £1.6 million study to develop a validated patient reported outcome measure for prolapse, incontinence, and mesh complication surgery, to better understand the short and long-term health impacts of pelvic mesh surgery. Further information is available at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR152187

This study is expected to report its findings in April 2026. The NIHR is also funding a study which will look at the long term effectiveness of surgical treatment for prolapse including pelvic mesh, with further information available at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR133665

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health including the use of vaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse. 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.