§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if metal on metal resurfacing of hip joints is available on the NHS. [124487]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 8 June 2000]This procedure is available on the National Health Service. However, it is a relatively new and unproven procedure and as such should normally be performed as part of a controlled clinical trial. The Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures (SERNIP), run by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, is the mechanism for assessing new surgical procedures. SERNIP considered there was not yet sufficient information to make a full assessment of the safety and efficacy of metal on metal resurfacing of hip joints.