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Hysteroscopy: Correspondence

Asked by Andrew GwynneIndependentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 3 November 2025UIN 73953

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69778 on Hysteroscopy: Correspondence, whether he has had recent discussions with NHS Trusts on ensuring that letters sent in advance of a hysteroscopy contain information on available pain-relief.

Answered by Karin Smyth

It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies. It is important that healthcare professionals provide women with information ahead of the procedure, so that they can make an informed decision. Women must be given the opportunity to speak to the doctor or nurse before having the procedure about what to expect, and to discuss pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic. Women can also discuss the option of alternative treatment, such as pelvic ultrasound.

Letters and information sent to patients are determined at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. A range of additional information is available for patients on hysteroscopy procedures, including on the NHS.UK website, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has created a patient information resource on hysteroscopy. This is available at the following link:

https://www.rcog.org.uk/outpatient-hysteroscopy

Details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the GOV.UK website.

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