Following reports of a number of adverse consequences from women who had urogynaecological mesh implants used to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), NHS England established the Mesh Working Group. The Mesh Working Group Interim Report, published in 2015, set out a number of actions to address the issues that had been raised. These aimed to address the three major concerns expressed by the Working Group – clinical quality, data and information and informed consent.

Since publication of the Interim Report, there has been a continued effort to better understand the implications of using mesh implants, improve services and information for women with mesh implants for SUI and POP, increase the reporting of complications and take account of further published evidence. During 2016/17, the Mesh Oversight Group worked to ensure that the recommendations of the interim report were implemented.

As part of these ongoing efforts, at the request of NHS England, NHS Digital has produced a report summarising activity within Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data for the NHS in England, of patients who have had a procedure for the treatment of urogynaecological prolapse or SUI. The report aims to provide a clearer national picture of patients who have had such procedures.

Nick Black from the Policy Innovation Research Unit (PIRU) has provided an independent view of NHS Digital’s report.